Brent Louis Taylor (born August 9, 1968) is an American politician who has served since 2023 as a member of the Tennessee Senate representing District 31. A member of the Republican Party, he was first elected to the Tennessee Senate in 2022. Taylor succeeded Brian Kelsey who pled guilty to campaign finance charges and did not seek re-election. He is a candidate in the 2026 election for Tennessee's 9th congressional district.
Early life, education, and career Brent Louis Taylor was born on August 9, 1968, in Batesville, Mississippi. As a teenager, he worked in his father's hardware store and lumberyard. Taylor earned a degree in mortuary science from Northwest Mississippi Community College. He later moved to Memphis to begin his career. He trained under local mentors in funeral service before starting his own enterprise with his wife, Kimberly.
In 2002, after U.S. Representative Ed Bryant declined to seek re-election in order to run for U.S. Senate, Taylor campaigned in the Republican primary for Tennessee's 7th congressional district. Taylor lost the primary to State Senator Marsha Blackburn who would go on to win the general election.
Taylor successfully campaigned in the 2022 election in Tennessee's 31st Senate district defeating Democratic nominee Ruby-Powell Dennis. He has become known for his tough on crime stance. He voiced his support for SJR0919, an amendment to the Constitution of Tennessee that would remove bail for major capital crimes such as terrorism, second degree murder, aggravated rape of a child, aggravated rape, and grave torture.
Political Career
Memphis City Council For the 1995 election, the Memphis City Council adopted a new redistricting plan, which called for the creation of seven regular districts and two "super districts" with three members each. Taylor ran in the newly created second district, which consisted of heavily conservative portions of East Memphis and recently annexed parts of Cordova. Taylor won, becoming the youngest member elected to the city council at the age of 27. He was re-elected in 1999 with 82% of the vote and was re-elected in 2003 with no opposition. Taylor served as council chairman in 2003.
Taylor developed a record of being a strong fiscal conservative, never voting for a tax increase, opposing business regulations, cutting the council budget, which resulted in a return of $163,000 to the general fund, and the removal of council perks such as subsidized cell phones. Taylor helped launch the Bounce Back Memphis Small Business Program, which supported small and local businesses in the city, Memphis' first Education Summit, and spearheading efforts to fund the World War II Memorial in Overton Park.During a severe summer storm in 2003, Taylor earned the nickname of "Little Guiliani" due to his strong and decisive leadership.
Electoral history
2002
2022
References