<p>COLUMBIA — Republican state Rep. Todd Warner of Chapel Hill in Marshall County — Maury County's neighbor to the east — announced Monday he will seek the newly created 9th U.S. Congressional District seat, setting up a Republican primary against state Sen. Brent Taylor of Eads in Shelby County. The Tennessee Legislature redrew congressional district lines just days before Warner's announcement, in a move that remains under challenge in three active lawsuits but is currently in effect, according to reporting by the Tennessee Lookout.</p><p>Warner, a farmer, positioned himself squarely as an outsider candidate in his announcement statement, saying he is not a politician chosen by insiders, consultants, or lobbyists — and that Washington can keep its endorsements. He has been a visible figure at the Capitol during the redistricting debate, and his entry into the race signals that rural Middle Tennessee intends to make its voice heard in the new district. Taylor, a sitting state senator from the Memphis suburb of Eads, brings a different geographic base to the contest.</p><p>The redrawing of Tennessee's congressional map — which lawmakers moved to adopt in the middle of an apportionment cycle — is a significant development for voters throughout the state, including Maury County residents who may find themselves in redrawn district lines. We will continue to follow this race as it develops. More at <a href="https://tennesseelookout.com/2026/05/12/tennessees-new-9th-district-draws-republican-race/">Tennessee Lookout</a>.</p>