In a Newly Drawn District, Black Voters May Get a Representative Who Spent Years Undermining Their Interests by Wendi C. Thomas, MLK50: Justice Through Journalism Co-published with MLK50: Justice Through Journalism October 26, 2026, 6:00 am

In a Newly Drawn District, Black Voters May Get a Representative Who Spent Years Undermining Their Interests by Wendi C. Thomas, MLK50: Justice Through Journalism Co-published with MLK50: Justice Through Journalism October 26, 2026, 6:00 am https://www.propublica.org/article/brent-taylor-memphis-tennessee-preemption-laws Reporting Highlights Undermining Voters: As state senator, Brent Taylor passed laws that superseded the will of Memphis voters. Now he wants to represent them in Congress. Overruling Elected Officials: Voters elected Democratic District Attorney Steve Mulroy, who rejected a tough-on-crime approach to public safety. Taylor’s laws have restrained his authority. Harming Black Memphians: Laws restricting how county judges set bail and reversing limits on police traffic stops disproportionately harm Black residents, studies show.