Following a fraught race and despite a late-breaking October surprise, state Sen. Brent Taylor (R-Memphis) has won the 9th Congressional District race.
The Memphis Republican faced state Rep. Justin Pearson (D-Memphis), who entered the race more than a year ago — before the state’s Republican supermajority carved up Tennessee’s congressional map and split Memphis into three separate districts. This will be the first time the seat has been red in several decades. Following redistricting, longtime Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen announced that he would not seek reelection.
During October’s early voting period, Post sister publication the Nashville Scene broke the news that Taylor admitted to sending unsolicited nude photos as recently as 2021. He described his sexting as “youthful indiscretions” despite being in his 50s when sending the pictures. When pressed, Taylor would not clarify how many people were affected. He blamed the media for making his family “relive” the incident.
Taylor is a staunch Republican who previously served on the Memphis City Council and the Shelby County Commission. In 2002, he ran for the 7th Congressional District seat, losing the Republican primary to now-U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn.
When previously asked by the Scene what he would like to accomplish once in Congress, Taylor said he wanted to push for energy independence, cutting federal regulations on small businesses and eliminating fraud and waste in federal spending.
“I am incredibly grateful to the voters of Middle and West Tennessee for choosing Competence Over Chaos,” Taylor said in statement on election night. “I hear the Tennessee Niners and promise to fight for them to reduce the cost of living by slashing wasteful Washington spending, unleashing American energy, and cutting unnecessary regulations on our farmers and small businesses.”
Taylor spent much of his campaign speaking not about policy as much as Pearson, repeatedly telling voters he was the right choice to avoid chaos and “constant embarrassment.”
In 2023, not long after three adults and three children lost their lives in the Covenant School shooting, Pearson was part of what became known as the Tennessee Three — a group of lawmakers who protested in favor of gun reform on the House floor.
"That's what this campaign has been about - us. So to everyone who has cast a ballot and the ones that are being counted, I appreciate you," Pearson said to his supporters. "Every door that's been knocked has been one for a better America. We are still holding with bated breath about what will come. This is the most important of what I am going to say: Thank you, thank you, thank you. Y'all have stuck with us."
Pearson’s name was also on the Nov. 3 ballot for his state House seat, where he ran unopposed and therefore will continue serving.