Republican · Tennessee's 9th District · 2026
Brent Taylor
Taylor and his wife, Kimberly, bought their first funeral home in 2004 and later expanded the business across the Memphis area.
Biography
Brent Taylor and his wife, Kimberly, bought their first funeral home in 2004 and expanded the business by acquiring others in the region.1 They have two adult children and live in Eads, where they are active in Trinity Baptist Church.1
Taylor studied mortuary science at Northwest Mississippi Community College and worked as a funeral director.2 He was elected to the Memphis City Council in 1995 and served for 12 years before leaving to concentrate on his businesses.1 He later served on the Shelby County Commission and chaired the county's Election Commission.2
His state Senate responsibilities include vice chairing Commerce and Labor and serving on Judiciary and Transportation and Safety.2 He sponsored the Senate version of legislation enacted in March 2024 that bars local governments from restricting police traffic stops based on observed or reasonably suspected violations of law.3 In Congress, he says he would support stronger immigration enforcement, completing the border wall and closer cooperation among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.4
Taylor's platform also emphasizes reducing federal spending, expanding domestic energy production and supporting voluntary farmland preservation.4 On public safety, he favors longer sentences for repeat violent offenders and additional resources for police recruitment and retention.4 Taylor faces Democrat Justin Pearson and two independents.5
Record and controversies
Unsolicited photo reporting and response
In October 2026, Nashville Scene and WPLN reported that Taylor sent unsolicited nude photographs to women, including an incident reported as recently as 2021.6 Taylor acknowledged past conduct, said one incident was too many and said he was willing to be held accountable, while declining to specify how often it happened.6 He also said he and his wife had addressed the matter privately and moved on.6 The cited reporting describes allegations and his responses, rather than an official disciplinary or criminal judgment.6
Posting personal information and a requested investigation
In August 2024, District Attorney Fred Agee asked state investigators to examine Taylor's posting of documents containing a defendant's birth date and Social Security number, and requested a special prosecutor.7 Taylor said he posted public records to criticize a plea agreement and replaced potentially unredacted documents once he learned of the issue.7 The Comptroller's Office declined to confirm the request to the reporter, so the account does not establish that an investigation was opened or that a crime was adjudicated.7 A later official outcome was not verified by October 28, 2026.7