State Senator Brent Taylor (R-Memphis) on Wednesday revealed his campaign to represent Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District has received 30 endorsements since he announced his candidacy last Thursday. Endorsements collected by Taylor include multiple members of Tennessee’s congressional delegation, leaders and legislators in the General Assembly, and prosecutors and sheriffs throughout the newly redrawn district.
Taylor’s list includes U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Bill Hagerty (R-TN), who both endorsed his campaign at launch, but also highlights endorsements from U.S. Representatives Diana Harshbarger (R-TN-01), Tim Burchett (R-TN-02), and Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN-03), meaning he has now accrued endorsements from a third of Tennessee’s delegation to the U.S. House.
Also listed in Taylor’s announcement are two members of the General Assembly’s leadership, Lt. Governor Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge) and Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin).
In addition to McNally and Johnson, Taylor has also received endorsements from multiple of his colleagues in the State Senate, including State Senators Joey Hensley (R-Hohenwald), Shane Reeves (R-District 14), Paul Rose (R-District 32), Page Walley (R-Bolivar), and Dawn White (R-Murfreesboro).
🚨State Senator Brent Taylor Announces 30 Statewide Endorsements in Campaign for Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District.
Team Taylor’s momentum for TN-09’s is real, and with the help of these conservative warriors for President Trump, we will Take Tennessee to the Top! pic.twitter.com/NO534MbiYF
— Brent Taylor (@BrentTaylorTN) May 13, 2026
In the State House, Taylor also picked up additional endorsements from State Representatives Kip Capley (R-Summertown), Ron Gant (R-Piperton), John Gillespie (R-Memphis), Tom Leatherwood (R-Arlington), Pat Marsh (R-Shelbyville), Jake McCalmon (R-Franklin), Kevin Vaughan (R-Collierville), and Mark White (R-Memphis).
Taylor also listed endorsements from District Attorneys Mark Davidson, Stacey Edmonson, Jody Pickens, Neil Thompson, and Coty Wamp; the sheriffs of Tipton County and Lauderdale County; and the mayors of Brantford, Savannah, and Fayette County.
“I’m honored by the number of folks who have come forward to support my campaign for Congress. I believe their support is in recognition of the work I’ve done to fight crime in Tennessee,” said Taylor in a statement. “Team Taylor for TN-09’s momentum is real, and with the help of these conservative warriors for President Trump, we’ll take Tennessee to the Top!”
The Tennessee Secretary of State updated its list of candidates on Tuesday, revealing that Taylor is among six Republicans who have taken steps to secure their place on the primary ballot. Charlotte Bergmann qualified before the district was redrawn, while Taylor and State Representative Todd Warner (R-Chapel Hill) have both had their petition signatures approved.
For the Republican primary, state officials have also approved the petition signatures returned by veteran Jeremy Thompson of Fayetteville, and confirmed Arthur Gibson has pulled a petition to collect signatures.
Shortly after announcing his entry into the race, Taylor confirmed to The Tennessee Star that he self-funded his campaign with a $1 million loan. He told Editor-in-Chief Michael Patrick Leahy that the money will allow his campaign to reach the entire new district.
“We’re gonna have the resources available to touch every single voter in the 9th Congressional District,” Taylor said. “This race… is not gonna be handed to anybody, and I expect to earn people’s vote, and I’m gonna earn the right to become Tennessee’s 9th congressman.”
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Tom Pappert is a 2025 recipient of the Dao Prize and the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star. He also reports for the Star News Network. Follow Tom on X. Email tips to [email protected].
