House Dems make change in No. 2 leadership position

House Democrats have voted to replace Rep. Vincent Dixie as caucus chair after an election cycle in which the minority’s numbers shrank. The caucus instead elected Rep. John Ray Clemmons for the No. 2 leadership post. Both are Nashville Democrats.

House Democrats lost one Memphis seat to redistricting and other when longtime Rep. John Mark Windle of Livingston decided to run for re-election as an independent. He lost to Republican Ed Butler.

Democrat Ronnie Glynn earlier this month narrowly held on to a Clarksville seat vacated by Jason Hodges and a Caleb Hemmer won an open race for a newly drawn district in southern Davidson County.

Here’s the release from House Democrats:

NASHVILLE — The Tennessee House Democratic Caucus today elected its leadership positions for the upcoming 113th General Assembly of the Tennessee House of Representatives.  Rep. Karen Camper of Memphis remains House Minority Leader and Rep. John Ray Clemmons is the newly-elected Caucus Chair.  Rep. Clemmons said that he’s “honored by the trust shown in him by the Caucus membership” and said he’s “ready to get to work on the challenges that lie ahead.”   Other positions elected today were as follows:

— Assistant Minority Leader: Rep. Harold Love of Nashville

— House Floor Leader: Rep. Bill Beck of Nashville

— Minority Whip: Rep. Jason Powell of Nashville

— Caucus Vice-Chair: Rep. Bob Freeman of Nashville

— Caucus Treasurer: Rep. Gloria Johnson of Knoxville

— Caucus Secretary: Rep. Ronnie Glynn of Clarksville

— Leader Pro Tempore: Rep. Larry Miller of Memphis

In addition to the above, Rep. Dwayne Thompson of Memphis and Rep. Johnny Shaw of Bolivar were elected to fill the 2 House Democratic positions on the Joint Fiscal Review Committee.