In 2002, businessman Phil Bredesen was elected as the 48th governor. Also in 2002, Tennessee amended the state constitution to allow for the establishment of a lottery. Tennessee's Bob Corker was the only freshman Republican elected to the United States Senate in the 2006 midterm elections. The state constitution was amended to reject same-sex marriage. In January 2007, Ron Ramsey became the first Republican elected as Speaker of the State Senate since Reconstruction, as a result of the realignment of the Democratic and Republican parties in the South since the late 20th century, with Republicans now elected by conservative voters, who previously had supported Democrats. COUNT 4
QSN1 Which Tennessee Senator was the only Republican first-time Senator elected in 2006? ANS1 Bob Corker QSN2 Who was elected governor of Tennessee in 2002? ANS2 Phil Bredesen QSN3 Who was the first Republican Speaker of the Tennessee state senate since Democrats took control in the Reconstruction era? ANS3 Ron Ramsey QSN4 Which political party did the majority of conservative Tennessee voters support in the early 20th century? ANS4 Democratic