{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"David Weatherspoon","chatgptsummary":"His chaplaincy career and his co-authored *The Peace Class* \u2014 drawn from a seven-year course on Civil Rights\u2013era nonviolence \u2014 point to unusual depth on listening, persuasion, and conflict resolution as practiced outside the chamber. The test for the constituency-understanding trait will be how concretely his stated platform (public-school investment, healthcare access, affordability, smart-on-crime combining suppression with prevention) becomes legislation he can move through the chamber.","notes":null,"party":"D","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nDavid Weatherspoon is a Democratic candidate running for election to the Tennessee State Senate to represent District 31 in the 2026 cycle [1]. He qualified for the ballot by submitting petitions, joining retired law professor Lawrence Pivnick as one of two Democrats seeking the party's nomination to challenge incumbent Republican Senator Brent Taylor [7]. Weatherspoon officially launched his campaign on April 9 in Germantown, where he faced off against Taylor in a \"November challenge\" before approximately 50 supporters [6].\n\nWeatherspoon self-describes as a husband, father, and former chaplain who grew up on a farm in Hickman County, Tennessee [3]. His campaign platform emphasizes common ground, stating that public service should begin with care for others and reflect values of hospitality and decency [4]. Regarding policy, he advocates for increased and more wise investment in public schools while opposing education vouchers, which he characterizes as a \"scam\" that diverts funding from public institutions to wealthy families [5]. He also asserts that the government must ensure ready access to healthcare for all residents and work to reduce costs for individuals [5].\n\n## Background and education\n\nDavid Weatherspoon self-describes as having grown up on a farm in Hickman County, Tennessee, located near the Bucksnort exit [3]. He states that his parents were blue-collar bi-vocational farmers who also worked factory jobs until the company closed [3]. The family relied on their garden to provide food during this period of economic hardship [3].\n\nWeatherspoon earned a bachelor's degree from Belmont University in 1998 and a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) from Mercer University in 2003 [1]. He is an ordained Baptist minister [1].\n\n## Career\n\nWeatherspoon grew up on a farm in Hickman County, Tennessee, where his parents worked as blue-collar bi-vocational farmers and factory employees [3]. He earned a bachelor's degree from Belmont University in 1998 and a Master of Divinity from Mercer University in 2003 [1]. Weatherspoon is an ordained Baptist minister who has served as a chaplain and minister for several organizations, including Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, Franklin College, Grady Hospital, Peachtree Baptist Church, and Emory University [1]. He also participated in the White House Chaplaincy program [1].\n\n## Office history\n\nDavid Weatherspoon has not previously held elected or appointed public office [1]. He is currently running for election to the Tennessee State Senate to represent District 31 as a Democrat [1]. The Democratic primary for this seat is scheduled for August 6, 2026 [1].\n\nWeatherspoon launched his campaign against incumbent Republican Senator Brent Taylor on April 9, prior to the filing deadline for primary challengers in March 2026 [6][7]. He qualified for the ballot through a petition drive that ran concurrently with a similar effort by retired law professor Lawrence Pivnick, who also sought the Democratic nomination for District 31 [7].\n\n## Documented disputes and controversies\n\nDavid Weatherspoon initiated a legal challenge against Dr. Gayle Minard, which was heard by the Tennessee Court of Appeals on November 18, 2015, under case number W2015-01099-COA-R3-CV [2].\n\nIn April 2026, Weatherspoon launched his campaign for Tennessee Senate District 31 with the stated goal of challenging incumbent Republican Senator Brent Taylor in the upcoming Democratic primary [6]. His qualification for the August 6, 2026 ballot required gathering support through qualifying petitions, a process shared by other candidates such as retired law professor Lawrence Pivnick who also sought to challenge Senator Taylor [7].\n\n## Business interests and wealth source\n\nDavid Weatherspoon self-describes as having grown up on a farm in Hickman County, Tennessee, where his parents were blue-collar bi-vocational farmers [3]. He states that the family's small farm did not generate significant income but provided much of their food, and that both parents worked factory jobs until one company closed its doors [3]. Weatherspoon notes that while the family did not have much money, his parents remained generous with the produce from their gardens [3].\n\nProfessional sources identify Weatherspoon's career background as primarily within healthcare chaplaincy and ministry rather than private business ownership. He has worked for Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, Franklin College, Grady Hospital, Peachtree Baptist Church, and Emory University in roles as a chaplain and minister [1]. Additionally, he served as a chaplain participant in a White House program [1].\n\nPublic financial disclosure records or detailed reports of specific business sales, ownership stakes, or significant personal wealth sources are not present in the provided source material. The available information focuses on his professional history as a chaplain and his educational background, which includes a bachelor's degree from Belmont University (1998) and an M.Div. from Mercer University (2003) [1]. No specific details regarding family wealth sources beyond the general description of his parents' farming and factory work are provided in the cited texts [3].\n\n## Family\n\nWeatherspoon self-describes as a husband and father [4]. He grew up on a farm in Hickman County, Tennessee, where his parents were blue-collar bi-vocational farmers who also worked factory jobs before the company closed [3].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [David Weatherspoon - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/David_Weatherspoon)\n[2] [David Weatherspoon v. Gayle Minard, MD | Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts](https://tncourts.gov/courts/court-appeals/arguments/2015/11/18/david-weatherspoon-v-gayle-minard-md)\n[3] [About | David Weatherspoon for TN Senate D-31](https://www.davidweatherspoonfortn.com/about)\n[4] [Elect David Weatherspoon for TN State Senate District 31](https://www.davidweatherspoonfortn.com)\n[5] [Platform | David Weatherspoon for TN Senate D-31](https://www.davidweatherspoonfortn.com/platform)\n[6] [Memphis area political roundup: David Weatherspoon kicks off campaign - Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian](https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/article/61795)\n[7] [Brent Taylor reacts to retired law professor Lawrence Pivnick's petition for his state Senate seat. Hospital Chaplain David Weatherspoon also has a petition out](https://dailymemphian.com/article/60496)","firstname":"David","lastname":"Weatherspoon","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"ImETAGb84L"},"token":"david_weatherspoon"},{"candidatename":"Brent Taylor","chatgptsummary":"Long Shelby County office-holding tenure signals familiarity with the district. Legislative work concentrates on criminal justice (TLRC lifetime score 73, leadership grade A), with limited evidence of cross-domain craft. On integrity and coalition-building, Taylor's most visible inter-branch interactions have been confrontational \u2014 a sustained five-complaint ethics campaign against Shelby DA Steve Mulroy (all dismissed; Mulroy publicly noted Taylor was \"0 for 5\") and parallel referrals against Judge Paula Skahan \u2014 which voters can judge as either principled oversight or persistent attack as a governing style. Taylor also announced in May 2026 a simultaneous run for Tennessees redrawn 9th Congressional District; if he wins both, he would presumably take the federal seat and not serve this Senate term, leaving the seat to be filled by appointment or special election.","notes":"","party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nBrent Taylor is a Republican member of the Tennessee State Senate representing District 31, having assumed office on January 9, 2023 [2]. His current term ends on November 3, 2026 [1]. Taylor is running for re-election to the Tennessee State Senate to represent District 31 and appears on the ballot in the Republican primary scheduled for August 6, 2026 [1].\n\nOn May 7, 2026, Taylor announced his intent to run for Tennessee\u2019s Ninth Congressional District following the passage of legislation redrawing the state's congressional maps [10][11]. The new district configuration covers the southern portion of Shelby County and parts of Fayette County [10]. Taylor stated that he aims to \"cement Tennessee's conservative legacy\" in Washington, D.C. [9]. He received endorsements from U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty for the congressional race [13].\n\n## Background and education\n\nBrent Taylor was born on August 9, 1968 [2][15]. He was born and raised in rural North Mississippi [5][15]. Taylor identifies as a Baptist [4][16]. He earned an Associate of Science degree in mortuary science from Northwest Mississippi Community College [1][2][4].\n\n## Career\n\nBrent Taylor was born and raised in rural North Mississippi [2][15]. He earned an associate degree in mortuary science from Northwest Mississippi Community College [1][2][4]. Following his education, he moved to Memphis to work as a funeral director [5][15]. In 2004, Taylor and his wife, Kimberly, purchased their first funeral home, eventually acquiring additional area locations to build the largest family-owned funeral operation in the Mid-South [5].\n\nTaylor began his public service career in 1995 when he was elected to the Memphis City Council at age 27, becoming the youngest person ever to hold that office [5][15]. He served as Chairman of the Shelby County Commission and later as a member of the Shelby County Board of Commissioners [4][5].\n\n## Office history\n\nBrent Taylor began his public service career in 1995 when he was elected to the Memphis City Council at age 27, becoming the youngest person ever elected to that body [5]. He served as Chairman of the council and self-describes himself as a leading conservative voice who never voted for a tax increase [5].\n\nIn 2022, Taylor ran for the Tennessee State Senate to represent District 31 [4]. He won the election and assumed office on November 8, 2022, with his term officially beginning on January 9, 2023 [1][2]. As a state senator, he serves a four-year term and represents parts of Memphis and its eastern suburbs, including most of Germantown and Collierville [16]. Taylor is currently serving in this role, which ends on November 3, 2026 [1].\n\nTaylor has also run for other offices. He announced a campaign for Tennessee\u2019s Ninth Congressional District in May 2026, following the passage of new congressional district maps [10][11]. This race is scheduled for the general election later in 2026, and its outcome is not yet known [1].\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\n\nDuring his tenure in the Tennessee Senate, Taylor has self-described his legislative priority as fighting crime [3]. He states that he sponsored laws to strengthen the state's bail system and voted to hire more State Troopers [3]. Additionally, he supported legislation prohibiting local governments from banning routine traffic stops by police officers [3].\n\nTaylor\u2019s policy positions include holding judges and District Attorneys accountable for their conduct. His efforts in this area reportedly led to the early retirements of two judges identified as \"soft-on-crime\" [3]. He has filed multiple ethics complaints against Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy, alleging issues with case resolutions and other professional conduct [6][8]. In December 2023, Taylor asked the Tennessee Board of Judicial Conduct and the Board of Professional Responsibility to investigate Judge Paula Skahan and the DA\u2019s office regarding alleged \"illegal restorative justice schemes\" in specific cases [7]. The Board of Professional Responsibility dismissed his complaint against Mulroy after a review, closing the matter without further action [8][6].\n\nLegislative tracking data from the Tennessee Legislative Research Center (TLRC) indicates that Taylor holds a lifetime vote score of 73 and a leadership grade of A as of the current reporting period [14]. He serves in District 31, which includes parts of Memphis and its eastern suburbs such as Germantown and Collierville [16][15].\n\n## Documented disputes and controversies\n\nState Senator Brent Taylor has engaged in a series of public disputes with Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy, filing multiple ethics complaints that were ultimately dismissed. In December 2023, Taylor sent a complaint to the Tennessee Board of Judicial Conduct and the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility, alleging \"illegal restorative justice schemes\" by Mulroy\u2019s office and Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Paula Skahan in specific cases [7]. The Tennessee Supreme Court's Board of Professional Responsibility reviewed the matter and dismissed the complaint without further action [6][8]. Following this dismissal, District Attorney Mulroy stated that Taylor had filed five complaints against him, noting that he was \"0 for 5\" on these ethics filings [6].\n\nTaylor\u2019s political activities have included high-profile challenges to incumbent officials in federal races. On May 7, 2026, following the passage of a bill redrawing Tennessee\u2019s congressional maps, Taylor announced his intent to run for the newly configured Ninth Congressional District [10][11]. The new district boundaries cover the southern portion of Shelby County and parts of Fayette County, replacing the previous configuration that included Congressman Steve Cohen [10][13]. Taylor received endorsements from U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty for this campaign [13]. Congressman Cohen responded to the announcement, though specific details of his rebuttal are not provided in the available sources [9][12].\n\n## Business interests and wealth source\n\nTaylor\u2019s primary source of wealth and professional background is in the funeral industry. After earning a degree in mortuary science from Northwest Mississippi Community College, he moved to Memphis to work as a funeral director [1][2][5]. In 2004, Taylor and his wife, Kimberly, purchased their first funeral home, subsequently acquiring additional area locations to build what self-describes as the largest family-owned funeral operation in the Mid-South [5].\n\nTaylor\u2019s political career began in 1995 when he was elected to the Memphis City Council at age 27, becoming the youngest person ever elected to that body [4][5]. He later served as Chairman of the Shelby County Commission before being elected to the Tennessee State Senate in 2022 [4][5]. Taylor resides in Eads, Tennessee, and lists his home city as Memphis in official candidate filings [1][4].\n\n## Family\n\nBrent Taylor is married to Kimberly [2][4]. The couple has two children, Gage and Molly [4]. Taylor states that he and his wife purchased their first funeral home in 2004, eventually building a family-owned business into the largest of its kind in the Mid-South [5].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Brent Taylor (Tennessee) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Brent_Taylor_(Tennessee))\n[2] [Brent Taylor (Tennessee politician) - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brent_Taylor_(Tennessee_politician))\n[3] [Brent Taylor for State Senate |](https://brenttaylorforsenate.com/)\n[4] [Vote Smart | Facts For All](https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/48828/brent-taylor)\n[5] [About | Brent Taylor for State Senate](https://brenttaylorforsenate.com/about/)\n[6] [State senator's complaint against Shelby County District Attorney dismissed, DA's office says | News | fox13memphis.com](https://www.fox13memphis.com/news/state-senators-complaint-against-shelby-county-district-attorney-dismissed-das-office-says/article_ca40243c-aa56-4d70-9710-cd40ff459caf.html)\n[7] [Tennessee State Senator Brent Taylor calls for investigation into Shelby County judge, D.A.'s office](https://www.localmemphis.com/article/news/politics/tennessee-state-senator-brent-taylor-investigation-into-shelby-county-judge-district-attorney-office/522-47b481b7-33cd-416e-889a-a441999d5afe)\n[8] [Senator Brent Taylor's ethics complaints against Shelby County DA Steve Mulroy dismissed](https://www.localmemphis.com/article/news/local/brent-taylors-ethics-complaints-dismissed-against-shelby-co-da-steve-mulroy/522-d8ed75f4-b69b-4b5a-ab00-9ec7950b77f8)\n[9] [TN Senator Brent Taylor announces run for 9th District; Congressman Cohen responds | WREG.com](https://wreg.com/news/tn-senator-brent-taylor-announces-run-for-9th-district/)\n[10] [Senator Brent Taylor announces his intent to run for newly-drawn District 9 congress seat](https://www.actionnews5.com/2026/05/07/senator-brent-taylor-announces-his-intent-run-newly-drawn-district-9-congress-seat/)\n[11] [State Senator Brent Taylor announces run for Ninth Congressional District | localmemphis.com](https://www.localmemphis.com/article/news/local/state-senator-brent-taylor-announces-run-for-ninth-congressional-district/522-ff1832df-560e-451e-bd7a-d5f32461ebc3)\n[12] [TN Senator Brent Taylor announces run for 9th District; Congressman Cohen responds](https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/tn-senator-brent-taylor-announces-191506690.html)\n[13] [Taylor says he will run in new 9th Congressional District](https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/taylor-says-run-9th-congressional-194700675.html)\n[14] [Tennessee Senate District 31 - Taylor - TLRC](https://tnreportcard.org/senators/tn-sd31-taylor/)\n[15] [Brent Taylor \u2014 Grokipedia](https://grokipedia.com/page/Brent_Taylor)\n[16] [[Editorial] Senator Brent Taylor & Shelby County (January 18, 2025). - The Memphis Times](https://memphistimes.org/2025-01-18-taylor/)","firstname":"Brent","lastname":"Taylor","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"KRtXNa5e7E"},"token":"brent_taylor"}],"choices":null,"description":"","district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"state_senator","o.office":null,"office":"state_senate_31","officedescription":"The Tennessee Senate is the upper chamber of the state legislature, with 33 members elected from single-member districts to four-year terms. Senators pass state laws, approve the state budget, confirm certain gubernatorial appointments, and \u2014 with the House \u2014 propose constitutional amendments.","officequalities":"- **Integrity** \u2014 Acts in the interest of constituents and the public good rather than for personal gain, and remains independent of undue influence from donors, lobbyists, and party leadership.\n- **Understanding of the constituency** \u2014 Grasps both the economic-development needs of the district and the day-to-day concerns of individual residents \u2014 safety, healthcare, education, infrastructure.\n- **Persuasion** \u2014 Engages, listens to, and persuades both fellow legislators and constituents. Can change minds and explain votes honestly.\n- **Legislative craft** \u2014 Reads, drafts, and amends statute with care. Understands how specific bill language translates to outcomes, and knows the body of law being modified.\n- **Coalition-building** \u2014 Finds common ground across partisan and factional lines, brokers compromises that hold, and forms working majorities even when consensus is hard to reach.","officeterm":4,"officetitle":"State Senator","partisan":1,"pgr":"primary","quantity":1,"referendum":"","source":null,"title":"Tennessee Senate District 31"}