Brent Taylor faces three opponents for Tennessee 9th seat

Brent Taylor, a Republican state senator from the Eads community, is running for Tennessee's 9th Congressional District seat in the Nov. 3 general election.

Taylor won the Republican primary on Aug. 6, receiving approximately 46% of the vote with 29,797 votes in a four-candidate field, according to Action News. He faces Democrat Justin J. Pearson and independents Dennis Clark and Michelle Davis Head in the general election, according to BallotReady election data.

On his campaign website, Taylor said he is running to support what he calls a "Take Tennessee to the Top" agenda focused on border security, cutting federal spending and expanding domestic energy production.

Candidate information

Party: Republican
Born: Aug. 9, 1968
Hometown: Raised in rural North Mississippi; resides in the Eads community
Education: Associate's degree in mortuary science, Northwest Mississippi Community College
Family: Married to Kimberly for over 30 years; two adult children; members of Trinity Baptist Church, according to his campaign website

Experience and public service

Taylor serves as a state senator representing District 31, according to Tennessee General Assembly records. He also served as chairman of the Shelby County Election Commission, according to the same records.

Taylor said on his campaign website that he became the youngest person ever elected to the Memphis City Council in 1995 at age 27. BallotReady data lists his Memphis City Council service from 1995 to 2007. He also served as a Shelby County commissioner, according to BallotReady.

In the state Senate, Taylor said he serves as vice chairman of the Commerce Committee and as a member of the Judiciary and Transportation committees.

Taylor said he and his wife purchased their first funeral home in 2004 and built the business into what he described as the largest family-owned funeral operation in the Mid-South.

On the issues

The following positions are drawn from Taylor's campaign website and his BallotReady questionnaire responses.

Spending and the economy: Taylor said he would cut what he called wasteful programs, eliminate what he termed fraud and ideological spending, oppose large omnibus spending bills and support cutting federal regulations. He said he backs delivering what he called economic relief to the hardworking people of the district.

Border security and immigration: Taylor said he would push to finish the border wall, restore enforcement, deport immigrants in the country illegally who have committed crimes and end sanctuary city policies. He said he would strengthen cooperation among federal, state and local law enforcement.

Energy: Taylor said he would promote domestic oil, natural gas and nuclear power production to lower costs and improve national security.

Public safety: Taylor said he would seek longer sentences for repeat violent offenders, limit early release for dangerous criminals and crack down on gang activity and fentanyl trafficking. He said he would push for more federal resources for law enforcement recruitment and retention.

Agriculture: Taylor said he would protect private property rights, support voluntary farmland preservation programs, ensure labeling standards for beef products and work to lower production costs for farmers.