In 2002 , Phil Bredesen became the 48th governor , and Tennessee amended the state constitution to allow for the establishment of a lottery . In 2006 , Tennessee saw the only freshman Republican , Bob Corker , elected to the United States Senate in the midst of the 2006 midterm elections and the Constitution was amended to reject same-sex marriage . In January 2007 , Ron Ramsey became the first Republican to become Speaker of the State Senate since Reconstruction . In 2010 , during the historic 2010 midterm elections , Bill Haslam succeeded Bredesen , who was term-limited , to become the 49th Governor of Tennessee . In April and May 2010 , the floods in Middle Tennessee devastated Nashville and other parts of Middle Tennessee . In 2011 , parts of East Tennessee , including Greene County , Hamilton County and Bradley County , were devastated by the historic 2011 Super Outbreak
floods in Middle Tennessee
2010 Tennessee floods
History of Tennessee