Tennessee Republican Brent Taylor acknowledges sending nude photos, cites 'youthful indiscretions'

Mixed · 2Brent Taylor, a Republican state senator from Memphis and his party's nominee in Tennessee's newly redrawn 9th Congressional District, has acknowledged sending nude photos in the past, after the Nashville Scene reported that multiple sources had received or seen them. 1 2 Left · 1One person, who spoke anonymously for fear of retaliation, said Taylor sent them an unsolicited image in 2021, before he won his state Senate seat, when he was 53; a second eyewitness corroborated the photos, according to the Scene. 1 Mixed · 2Taylor did not deny it. He told the Scene: "As I near 60 years old, the expiration date has come and gone on any of my youthful indiscretions," and said his wife knew of the matter and they had worked through it long ago, adding, "My god and my wife have forgiven me, and I would consider everyone else doing the same." 1 2

Left · 1He also said he had "been guilty of being a rounder, back in the day" and, asked what he meant, told the reporter to look it up; the Scene said the term likely refers to a barfly prone to morally dubious behaviour. 1 Right · 1The New York Post reports that Taylor told ActionNews5 he sent the photos but only to one woman, and issued a further statement saying he was confident voters "aren't concerned about my family or this type of past nonsense" and that he was "willing to acknowledge my past indiscretion." 2 Left · 1The Scene said the allegations clash with Taylor's reputation as a "Christian family man and dedicated husband"; he has been married to his wife, Kimberly, for 30 years. 1

Right · 1His Democratic opponent, state Rep. Justin Pearson, one of the "Tennessee Three" expelled from the state House in 2023, called Taylor's characterisation "a ridiculous and dangerous mischaracterization of the type of predatory behavior that needs to be rooted out of our society and politics." 2 Left · 1Critics on social media mocked the "youthful" label, including Punchbowl News co-founder John Bresnahan, journalist Jane Coaston, strategist Drew Savicki and Tennessee journalist Jamie Satterfield, who noted that former Knox County mayor Glenn Jacobs and Rep. Tim Burchett are urging people to vote for him. 3 Mixed · 2The Republican-led legislature redrew the district's map in May to boost the party's chances; Taylor, endorsed by President Donald Trump, won the August primary, and according to Raw Story polls and forecasts still favour him though Pearson has narrowed the gap, while the Post notes Cook Political Report rates the district "Solid R." 1 2 3

Right · 1The seat is currently held by Democrat Steven Cohen, who announced he would retire after Republican leaders re-mapped his district, and early voting in Tennessee ends Thursday. 2