President Donald Trump has endorsed state Sen. Brent Taylor, R-Memphis, for the congressional race to replace long-time Democratic Congressman Steve Cohen.
Whoever wins the Republican primary on Aug. 6 is poised to flip the district red. Taylor, along with other Republican lawmakers, heeded a call from Trump this spring to redraw the state’s congressional map to favor GOP candidates. The new map fractures Memphis into three different districts.
Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District, which long represented the city, now stretches from one part of Memphis some 200 miles to Franklin in Middle Tennessee, introducing more Republican voters into the Democratic stronghold.
Trump announced the endorsement on Truth Social, saying that Taylor will “Unleash American Energy DOMINANCE, Keep our Border SECURE, Stop Migrant Crime, Ensure LAW AND ORDER.”
“Brent is strongly supported by the most Highly Respected MAGA Warriors in Tennessee, including both of your tremendous U.S. Senators, my friends, Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty!” Trump said.
“Now, from Collierville to College Grove, I’m ready to bring that same fight to Washington on behalf of the great people of Tennessee,” Taylor said on X. “I’m honored and deeply humbled to have the endorsement of the most consequential President of my lifetime.
Taylor faces a challenge from fellow state lawmaker, Rep. Todd Warner, R-Lewisburg. Warner has similarly aligned himself with Trump. During redistricting, Warner draped himself in a Trump 2024 campaign flag, wearing it like a cape.
Also running in the Republican primary is retired U.S. Army Sergeant Jeremy Thompson, who has made little mention of the president in campaign materials.
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