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>
===Death in office===
He suffered a [[heart attack]] in mid-November 1939 and died while in office.<ref name=knoxvillefocus/> Controversy emerged afterwards, with reports of his federal office building being ransacked. Although his older daughter Elizabeth managed to recover some personal papers, others were taken away and privately kept by his youngest daughter Catherine. At the same time, a number of Republicans considered running for the seat to succeed Taylor.<ref name=knoxvillefocus/> These included John Jennings, Jr., [[Howard Baker, Sr.]], and his daughter Elizabeth, who asserted support and encouragement for her potential candidacy as having been:
{{cquote|...a great tribute to my Daddy for his friends to want me to fill out his unexpired term in Congress.}}