Like his GOP colleague [[B. Carroll Reece]] from the 1st congressional district, Taylor was largely pro-[[civil rights]] and supportive of [[anti-lynching legislation]], voting for the Dyer bill in 1922<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/67-2/h169 TO PASS H. R. 13.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved August 5, 2021.</ref> following the St. Louis race riots as well as the 1937 Gavagan-Wagner bill.<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/75-1/h27 TO PASS H. R. 1507, AN ANTI-LYNCHING BILL.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved August 5, 2021.</ref>
The landslide election of [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] in the [[United States presidential election, 1932|1932 presidential election]] ended most of Taylor's political influence, namely patronage.<ref name=knoxvillefocus/> He faced a strong challenge in his 1936 re-election bid from [[Democrat]] John T. O'Connor, and only won by two percentage points.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=310769 TN - District 02 Race - Nov 03, 1936]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved August 5, 2021.</ref>
==References==