Yarbro, Akbari elected to lead Tennessee Senate Democrats assembly

NASHVILLE — Tennessee’s five-member state Senate Democratic Caucus on Tuesday elected Sens. Jeff Yarbro of Nashville and Raumesh Akbari of Memphis to lead them in the 111th General Assembly.

Yarbro, who is beginning his second term, was elected minority leader while Akbari, a freshman who previously served in the House, was elected caucus chair.

Neither had opposition in the tiny caucus that is outnumbered by a 27-member Republican super majority.

“This caucus will fight for every Tennessean to have a shot, a shot at a good education and a good job, not one where you just make a living, but can build a life,” Yarbro said. “Our caucus will bring new energy, new ideas, and be united to meet the challenges of the coming session.”

Akbari said “Democrats are picking up momentum around the state, and I am honored to serve in this role with such a phenomenal group of senators. The energy is undeniable, and I know we can kick it up a notch for 2020.”

Senate Democrats have the same number of members that they had in the previous two legislatures. They’ve been given a variety of nicknames, including the “Fabulous Five.” But Democrats nearly defeated a Republican incumbent representing Memphis suburbs.

Akbari came up with her own take, saying “we’re the starting lineup.”

Other newcomers are Sens. Brenda Gilmore of Nashville, who won an open seat, and Katrina Robinson of Memphis, who defeated incumbent Reggie Tate in the August Democratic primary. Tate had been criticized as being too accommodating to Republicans.

Gilmore was elected Democratic floor leader. Sen. Sara Kyle of Memphis, beginning her second Senate term, was elected caucus vice chairman. Robinson was elected Democratic whip.

During their meeting, Yarbro, the lone male, boasted that the five Democrats are younger, have greater diversity and the only senator who is a working mother of a young child, that being Robinson, a small business owner.

It was the first time in years that all the Democratic Caucus members were at a meeting. Tate and then-Sen. Thelma Harper of Nashville quit attending their meetings when then-freshmen Yarbro and Lee Harris of Memphis beat them out for the two top party posts.

The Senate has one vacancy, left after a Republican from Shelby County was confirmed as a U.S. District Court judge last month. A special election has been scheduled for March to fill the seat.