Scott Taylor (politician)

Scott William Taylor{{cite news |last1=Payne |first1=Kimball |title=BIO: Scott Taylor |url=https://www.dailypress.com/2010/06/06/bio-scott-taylor/ |work=Daily Press |access-date=January 4, 2017 |date=June 6, 2010}} was born in Baltimore and raised in Hebron, Maryland.

After high school, he enlisted in the United States Navy.

Taylor received orders to Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training (BUD/S) at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado. Taylor graduated with BUD/S class 219 in October 1998 and then attended Basic Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia. Following SEAL Tactical Training (STT) and completion of six month probationary period, he received the Navy Enlisted Classification (NEC) 5326 as a Combatant Swimmer (SEAL), entitled to wear the Special Warfare insignia. He deployed in counternarcotics and foreign intelligence defense missions with SEAL Team 4. He is fluent in Spanish and served overseas in South and Central America in counternarcotics and foreign internal defense missions.{{cite web |last=Leon |first=Melissa |title=Congressman and former Navy SEAL takes selfie with his protestors |work=American Military News |date=April 20, 2018 |url=https://americanmilitarynews.com/2018/04/congressman-and-former-navy-seal-takes-selfie-with-his-protestors/}}

A combat veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Taylor was a SEAL sniper, and was injured on a combat mission in Ramadi, Iraq. He spent two years as a SEAL instructor teaching marksmanship and reconnaissance. Taylor appeared in the Discovery Channel feature Secrets of Seal Team 6.{{cite news |title=From the deserts of Yemen to DC: One freshman congressman's journey |work=Washington Examiner |date=December 30, 2016 |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/from-the-deserts-of-yemen-to-dc-one-freshman-congressmans-journey}}

After leaving the military, Taylor worked in security consulting and critical infrastructure protection, frequently traveling to Yemen. He received a certification in government contracting from Old Dominion University, a Bachelor of Liberal Arts{{Cite web|date=2016-11-21|title=Two Harvard Extension School alumni elected to U.S. House of Representatives|url=https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/newsplus/two-harvard-extension-school-alumni-elected-to-u-s-house-of-representatives/|access-date=2020-06-17|website=Harvard Gazette|language=en-US|archive-date=June 21, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180621221312/https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/newsplus/two-harvard-extension-school-alumni-elected-to-u-s-house-of-representatives/|url-status=dead}} and a Masters of Liberal Arts from Harvard Extension School.{{cite news |last1=Kacoyanis |first1=Stephanie |title=Two Harvard Extension School alumni elected to U.S. House of Representatives |url=https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/newsplus/two-harvard-extension-school-alumni-elected-to-u-s-house-of-representatives/ |access-date=6 April 2025 |work=Harvard Gazette |date=21 November 2016}}

In 2008, Taylor ran for Mayor of Virginia Beach, Virginia.{{cite web|url=http://www.virginianewssource.com/PDFs/staylor.pdf|title=Scott Taylor to Run for Virginia's 2nd Congressional District Seat|publisher=Scott Taylor for Congress|access-date=August 22, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101201023625/http://virginianewssource.com/PDFs/staylor.pdf|archive-date=December 1, 2010}} He was a candidate in the 2010 primary election for Virginia's 2nd congressional district, but lost to Scott Rigell. Taylor was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates for the 85th district in November 2013, where, as a delegate, Taylor cosponsored a bill to outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in labor and housing.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/va-house-vote-hints-at-a-generational-divide-on-gay-rights/2016/02/17/4bd2985c-d594-11e5-be55-2cc3c1e4b76b_story.html|title=Va. House vote hints at a generational divide on gay rights|last=Portnoy|first=Jenna|date=February 18, 2016|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=June 15, 2016}}

In 2012, Taylor founded and served as chairman for the Special Operations OPSEC Education Fund, a 501(c) Political Action Committee formed in 2012 accusing the Obama Administration of security leaks and taking too much credit for the killing of Osama bin Laden in 2011.{{cite news|first=Jake|last=Tapper|title=President Obama Says He Doesn't Take Anti-Obama Navy SEALs Group "Too Seriously"|url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/08/president-obama-says-he-doesnt-take-anti-obama-navy-seals-group-too-seriously|work=ABC News|date=August 21, 2012}}{{cite news|first=Dugald|last=McConnell|title=Former special forces officers slam Obama over leaks on bin Laden killing|url=http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/16/politics/former-seals-obama/index.html|work=CNN|date=August 17, 2012}}

Taylor passed an equity crowdfunding bill into a law which makes it easier for small businesses to access capital.{{cite news |last1=Lambertsen |first1=Kirsten |title=Crowdfunding bill could make raising capital for new businesses easier |url=https://www.wsls.com/news/crowdfunding-bill-could-make-raising-capital-for-new-businesses-easier |date=January 28, 2015 |work=WSLS-TV}}{{cite web |title=Small Business Crowdfunding Goes to Governor for Approval |url=https://www.nfib.com/content/news/start-a-business/small-business-crowdfunding-goes-to-governor-for-approval-68319/ |date=March 17, 2015 |website=NFIB.com |publisher=National Federation of Independent Business}}{{cite news |title=House Passes Del. Scott Taylor's Crowdfunding Bill |url=https://virginiahouse.gop/2015/02/02/house-passes-del-scott-taylors-crowdfunding-bill/ |date=February 2, 2015 |agency=Virginia House GOP}} He also established The Veterans Services Foundation Act which states that, to support its mission, the foundation can accept funds from all sources including private fundraising and others.{{cite web |title=HB 1967 Veterans Services Foundation |url=http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?151+sum+HB1967 |website=Virginia's Legislative Information System}} He also passed a bill to establish a veterans resource center with at least one full-time veterans advisor on the campus of each of the seven comprehensive community colleges in the Commonwealth.{{cite web |title=2016 Session - HB 450 Comprehensive community colleges, certain; veterans advisors and veterans resource centers |url=http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?161+sum+HB450 |website=Virginia's Legislative Information System}}

{{see also|2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia#District 2}}

In 2016, after the incumbent Scott Rigell, a Republican, announced he would not seek re-election, Taylor won the Republican Party nomination for Virginia's 2nd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives, defeating Randy Forbes in the primary,{{cite news|first=Ken|last=Dilanian|title=Group attacking Obama for security leaks includes past talkers|url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-xpm-2012-aug-16-la-pn-group-attacking-obama-for-security-leaks-includes-past-leakers-20120815-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|date=August 16, 2012}}{{cite news|last1=Bartel|first1=Bill|last2=Parker|first2=Stacy|title=Scott Taylor defeats veteran Randy Forbes in 2nd Congressional primary thanks to feisty grassroots campaign|url=http://pilotonline.com/news/government/politics/virginia/scott-taylor-defeats-veteran-randy-forbes-in-nd-congressional-primary/article_2e1315de-1d5a-51fb-801a-be2886af5e02.html|work=The Virginian-Pilot|access-date=June 14, 2016|date=June 14, 2016|archive-date=June 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160616213822/http://pilotonline.com/news/government/politics/virginia/scott-taylor-defeats-veteran-randy-forbes-in-nd-congressional-primary/article_2e1315de-1d5a-51fb-801a-be2886af5e02.html|url-status=dead}} then defeated Democrat Shaun Brown, 61.3% to 38.5%, to win the general election on November 8, 2016.{{cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Shaun_Brown |title=Shaun Brown |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=August 30, 2018}} Taylor was a member of the Republican Main Street Partnership,{{cite web |title=Members |url=https://republicanmainstreet.org/members/ |website=Republican Main Street Partnership |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907132025/https://republicanmainstreet.org/members/ |archive-date=2017-09-07 |access-date=October 4, 2017}} as well as of the Republican Study Committee{{cite web |title=Membership |url=https://rsc-walker.house.gov/about/membership |website=Republican Study Committee |access-date=August 15, 2018 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180918025737/https://rsc-walker.house.gov/about/membership |archive-date=2018-09-18 |date=December 6, 2017}} and the Climate Solutions Caucus.{{cite web |title=Climate Solutions Caucus - Citizens' Climate Lobby |url=https://citizensclimatelobby.org/climate-solutions-caucus/ |website=Citizens' Climate Lobby |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122103540/https://citizensclimatelobby.org/climate-solutions-caucus/ |archive-date=22 November 2018 |access-date=22 November 2018}}

{{see also|2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia#District 2}}

In January 2018, former Navy commander Elaine Luria announced her intention to run for Taylor's seat. In the June 10 Democratic primary, Luria received 62% of the vote, defeating Karen Mallard, who received 38%.{{cite news |title=In US House Race, Former Navy Commander Targets Former SEAL |work=WBOC-TV |date=May 24, 2018 |url=http://www.wboc.com/story/38270509/in-us-house-race-former-navy-commander-targets-former-seal}} In the Republican primary, Taylor defeated Mary Jones, 76% to 24%.{{cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Elaine_Luria |title=Elaine Luria |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=August 15, 2018}}

In August 2018, a special prosecutor was appointed to investigate reports that members of Taylor's campaign staff had added fake names to ballot access petitions intended to help independent candidate Shaun Brown get on the ballot.{{cite news |title=Prosecutor will investigate candidate's ballot paperwork |url=https://valawyersweekly.com/2018/08/07/prosecutor-will-investigate-candidates-ballot-paperwork/ |newspaper=Virginia Lawyers Weekly |agency=Associated Press |date=August 7, 2018 |page=5}}{{cite news |url=https://www.dailypress.com/news/politics/dp-nws-taylor-brown-davis-20180807-story.html |title=More complaints of false names on petitions for Hampton candidate |last=Ress |first=Dave |work=Daily Press |access-date=August 7, 2018 |date=August 7, 2018 |language=en-US}} Gathering signatures to put another candidate on the ballot is legal, and observers believed that Brown's "appearance on the ballot threatens to split the Democratic vote in a highly competitive race."{{cite news |url=https://whro.org/radio/1778-taylor-campaign-workers-helped-put-shaun-brown-on-the-ballot-as-an-independent-candidate |title=Taylor Campaign Workers Helped Put Shaun Brown on the Ballot as an Independent Candidate |last=Bibeau |first=Paul |website=WHRO-FM |access-date=August 7, 2018 |date=August 1, 2018}} A Freedom of Information Act request made by WHRO-TV found that four paid workers on Taylor's campaign had collected signatures to put Shaun Brown on the ballot as an independent candidate in the 2nd district race. In August, following allegations that some of the signatures gathered by his staff were forged, Taylor said "My campaign has a zero-tolerance policy for inappropriate activities" and he severed ties with his campaign consultant.{{cite news |url=https://www.richmond.com/news/virginia/government-politics/names-of-dead-man-and-voter-who-moved-show-up/article_cbbeb547-a135-5646-9fdc-20d256217b30.html |title=Names of dead man and voter who moved show up on petition Rep. Scott Taylor's staff gathered for independent candidate |last=Wilson |first=Patrick |work=Richmond Times-Dispatch |access-date=August 7, 2018 |date=August 6, 2018 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Wilson |first1=Patrick |title=Richmond judge finds 'out-and-out fraud' in effort by Rep. Scott Taylor staff to get independent on ballot |url=https://richmond.com/news/local/government-politics/richmond-judge-finds-out-and-out-fraud-in-effort-by-rep-scott-taylor-staff-to/article_59706d14-f2da-5270-847b-a3faa64950d0.html |work=Richmond Times-Dispatch |date=September 5, 2018 |language=en |quote=Last month, after news of the forgeries, Taylor announced that he was severing ties with his campaign consultant. Rob Catron, the former consultant, signed an affidavit saying that if he testified, he would invoke his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination if asked whether he knew there were forged signatures, whether Taylor directed the effort to gather signatures for Brown, and whether there was an attempt to defraud the State Board of Elections.}}{{cite news |last1=Portnoy |first1=Jenna |title=Special prosecutor investigating possible election fraud in Rep. Scott Taylor's race |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/special-prosecutor-investigating-possible-election-fraud-in-rep-scott-taylors-race/2018/08/07/e95e6fac-99c2-11e8-843b-36e177f3081c_story.html |access-date=August 8, 2018 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=August 7, 2018}}

In May 2019, one of the four former staffers was indicted on two counts of election fraud, a felony punishable by one to 10 years in prison and a $2,500 fine.{{cite news |last1=Harper |first1=Jane |title=Former U.S. Rep. Scott Taylor campaign staffer indicted in petition forgery scandal |url=https://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-nw-taylor-staffer-indictments-0507-story.html |access-date=June 3, 2019 |work=Daily Press |date=May 7, 2019 |location=Newport News}} The special prosecutor found no evidence of wrongdoing on Taylor's part, but said that "what actually happened within the campaign headquarters is still a subject of investigation due primarily to the lack of cooperation of key individuals."{{cite news |last1=Schneider |first1=Gregory |last2=Portnoy |first2=Jenna |title=Special prosecutor charges Scott Taylor campaign aide with election fraud in signature scheme |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/prosecutor-accuses-one-person-with-election-fraud-but-clears-former-rep-scott-taylor-in-signature-scheme/2019/05/06/d3c0db9c-7042-11e9-9f06-5fc2ee80027a_story.html |access-date=24 June 2020 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=May 7, 2019}} In March 2021, Heather Guillot, a former campaign staffer for Taylor's 2018 re-election campaign, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor election fraud count. She had been charged with a felony, but accepted a plea deal offered by the special prosecutor to plead guilty to the misdemeanor.{{cite news |date=March 30, 2021 |title=A third member of ex-U.S. Rep. Scott Taylor's staff pleads guilty to role in petition scandal |first=Jane |last=Harper |newspaper=The Virginian Pilot |url=https://www.pilotonline.com/news/crime/vp-nw-taylor-staffer-pleads-guilty-20210330-uptcas3b6ndqfb2hbwxqju4yhm-story.html}} In June 2021, Taylor's former campaign consultant Rob Catron became the fourth person to be indicted for election fraud in connection with Taylor's campaign for Congress.{{cite news |date=June 28, 2021 |first=Meagan |last=Flynn |title=Fourth person linked to former congressman Scott Taylor's campaign is charged with election fraud |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/fourth-person-linked-to-former-congressman-scott-taylors-campaign-is-charged-with-election-fraud/ar-AALyykr?li=BBnb7Kz |via=MSN}}

On November 6, 2018, Taylor lost to Luria, taking 48.9 percent of the vote to Luria's 51.1 percent.

{{see also|2020 United States Senate election in Virginia|2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia#District 2}}

On July 8, 2019, Taylor announced that he was running for the United States Senate against two-term incumbent Mark Warner in the 2020 election. In an interview with the Associated Press after announcing his candidacy, Taylor said that his military service and moderate social views could help attract voters. He accused Warner of moving away from centrist pro-business policies that he embraced as governor and focusing too heavily on fostering the "illusion" that Donald Trump colluded with Russia.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2019-07-08/former-rep-scott-taylor-announces-us-senate-bid-in-virginia |title=Former Rep. Scott Taylor Announces US Senate Bid in Virginia |last=Suderman |first=Alan |date=July 8, 2019 |magazine=U.S. News & World Report |agency=Associated Press |access-date=July 8, 2019}}

Taylor decided to withdraw from the Senate race on December 9, 2019, instead opting to take back his old House seat. On June 23, 2020, he won the Republican primary, setting up a rematch with Luria.

Luria defeated him and was re-elected with a six-point margin taking 52 percent to Taylor's 46 percent.

Taylor proposed a VA SEA Act from his concerns with senior VA officials' responses to complaints about poor management at the Hampton Veterans Affairs Medical Center. His Act became a law in 2018.{{cite web |title=H.R.2772 - SEA Act of 2018 |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/2772 |website=Congress.Gov}} The U.S. Congress also passed his Ashanti Alert Act.{{cite news |last1=Poulter |first1=Amy |title=Ashanti Alert becomes law after President Trump signs bill |url=https://www.dailypress.com/news/politics/dp-nws-ashanti-alert-law-20190101-story.html |access-date=January 1, 2019 |newspaper=Daily Press}} He later proposed a Defense Roads Appropriations language, stating that the Department of Defense can work with the Department of Transportation to help fund off-base projects in the areas of reoccurring floods and sea level rise.{{cite web |last1=PONTON |first1=BRENDAN |title=Rep. Scott Taylor makes fighting sea-level rise around military bases a priority |url=https://wtkr.com/2018/05/11/rep-scott-taylor-makes-fighting-sea-level-rise-around-military-bases-a-priority/ |website=WTKR - Tribune Broadcasting |date=May 11, 2018 |access-date=May 11, 2018}}{{cite news |last1=Coutu |first1=Peter |title=DoD Could Start Funding Off-Base Infrastructure Fixes for Sea Level Rise |url=https://www.military.com/daily-news/2019/02/08/dod-could-start-funding-base-infrastructure-fixes-sea-level-rise.html |access-date=8 February 2019 |agency=Military.com}}

Taylor opposes abortion and opposes taxpayer funding of abortion.

In April 2018, Taylor praised President Trump for the "measured" and "calculated" military action carried out under his direction in Syria in conjunction with the French and British. Taylor said that he was "torn" in regard to taking international military action, but in the case of Syria he felt that Trump "listened to his advisers".{{cite news |title=GOP Rep, Retired Navy SEAL: Trump's Syria Action 'Measured, Calculated' |work=Fox News |date=April 14, 2018 |url=http://insider.foxnews.com/2018/04/14/trump-attacks-syria-chemical-weapons-navy-seal-scott-taylor-reacts}}

Asked in 2010 about the pending end of Don't Ask Don't Tell, he said, "I encourage everyone to honorably serve in the military regardless of their sexual orientation. Heterosexual relationships are not permitted to take place while our men and women serve their country, so I believe this to be a completely political move."

In March 2017, the first bill Taylor introduced as a congressman was to outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity when renting or selling housing.{{cite news |last1=Bartel |first1=Bill |title=Rep. Taylor's first bill would outlaw housing discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity |url=

https://www.pilotonline.com/government/nation/article_62bd841b-29b8-589d-af64-3accfbd8b662.html |access-date=June 16, 2021 |work=The Virginian-Pilot |date=March 9, 2017}}

Taylor was a cosponsor of H.R. 2282, the version of the Equality Act submitted in the House of Representatives during the 115th Congress.{{Cite web |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/2282/cosponsors |title=Cosponsors - H.R.2282 - 115th Congress (2017-2018): Equality Act |date=June 2, 2017 |website=Congress.gov |language=en |access-date=August 29, 2018}}

In September 2017, Taylor said he opposed the ban on transgender persons in the military. "If you are able to serve, serve," he said. "I don't care if you are gay, straight, transgender or not. If you are ready to go, cool." He added, however, that the military should not have to pay for gender-reassignment surgery.{{cite news |last=Hooper |first=Molly |title=WATCH: Freshman GOP lawmaker and former Navy SEAL walks a careful line on transgender troops |work=The Hill |date=September 26, 2017 |url=https://thehill.com/352396-watch-freshman-gop-lawmaker-and-former-navy-seal-walks-a-careful-line-on-transgender-troops/}}

Taylor supported President Donald Trump's 2017 executive order to impose a temporary ban on entry to the U.S. to citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries. He stated that "While I do not agree with some of the rhetoric, taking a pause, figuring out if we are properly vetting people, and making changes if necessary to continue our American principles is prudent and needed. The safety and protection of our citizens must remain our number one priority."{{cite news |last1=Blake |first1=Aaron |title=Coffman, Gardner join Republicans against President Trump's travel ban; here's where the rest stand |url=http://www.denverpost.com/2017/01/29/republicans-on-trump-travel-ban/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |via=The Denver Post |access-date=January 30, 2017 |date=January 29, 2017}}

In 2018, Taylor stated that he opposed deporting people who were brought into the United States illegally as children.{{cite news |url=https://www.dailypress.com/news/politics/dp-nws-scott-taylor-elaine-luria-debate-congress-20181023-story.html |title=Taylor and Luria spar over taxes, health care in their first debate |last=Bartell |first=Bill |date=October 24, 2018 |newspaper=Daily Press |access-date=July 8, 2019}} He also said that he wanted to find ways for others who were in the country illegally to "get right with the law." Taylor favors increasing immigration enforcement and border security but opposes Trump's plan to build a wall along the border with Mexico.{{cite web |url=https://www.pilotonline.com/government/local/article_d5d33534-dd3e-11e8-aa93-2ff426926a57.html |title=Elaine Luria and Scott Taylor are locked in a close race. Here's where they stand on key issues. |last=Bartell |first=Bill |date=November 3, 2018 |newspaper=The Virginia Pilot |access-date=September 28, 2019}}

{{Anchor|Cannabis Legalization}}

On February 27, 2017, Taylor was an original cosponsor for bill H.R. 1227 – Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2017.{{Cite web |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/1227/cosponsors |title=Cosponsors: H.R.1227 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) |date=July 25, 2017 |website=Congress.gov |access-date=November 22, 2017}}

On May 4, 2017, Taylor voted Yes on H.R. 1628 (AHCA of 2017).{{Cite web|url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll256.xml|title=Actions - H.R.1628 - 115th Congress (2017-2018): American Health Care Act of 2017}}

Taylor accepts that climate change is happening, but argues that there are questions as to humans' contribution to climate change.{{Cite news|url=http://pilotonline.com/news/government/nation/article_c98780b1-5d8c-5f65-ad3c-7f1a3d7cbcb2.html|title=Large crowd frequently shouts at Rep. Scott Taylor during contentious town hall meeting|last=Bartel|first=Bill|work=The Virginian-Pilot|access-date=July 25, 2018|language=en|date=February 20, 2017}} Taylor said, "there are the questions about what man can do about" climate change.

During Taylor's unsuccessful congressional primary campaign in 2010, he voiced support for offshore oil drilling along Virginia's coast.{{cite web|url=http://altdaily.com/69q-a-republican-hopeful-for-us-congress-scott-taylor/|first=Jay|last=Ford|title=Q&A: Republican Hopeful for US Congress, Scott Taylor|work=AltDaily.com|date=April 20, 2010|access-date=January 19, 2018}} In 2018, after President Trump announced plans to lift a ban on offshore oil drilling in the Atlantic Ocean, Taylor voiced his opposition, saying that drilling could interfere with military training and citing opposition from localities within his district.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/rep-scott-taylor-of-virginia-beach-comes-out-against-off-shore-drilling/2018/01/08/c770904e-f4a6-11e7-b34a-b85626af34ef_story.html|first=Jenna|last=Portnoy|title=Rep. Scott Taylor of Virginia Beach comes out against offshore drilling|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=January 8, 2018|access-date=January 19, 2018}}

Taylor supported the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. He came under criticism for this from his 2018 Democratic challenger, Elaine Luria, who argued that most of the benefits of the bill went to the wealthiest people, and that 98% of families only saw an average tax cut of $688. "I can tell you right now that $688 could be the difference between the lights going on or off," said Taylor, adding he was raised by a single mother on a modest income. "Nine out of ten people in this district have seen more money in their own pockets… I know the benefit of that tax reform here and I'm proud I supported it."

In February 2017, following President Trump's likening of the intelligence community to Nazi Germany, Taylor said that Trump and the intelligence community "need to get on the same page very quickly."{{cite news |last=Nelson |first=Louis |title=Ex-Navy SEAL congressman: Trump and intel community need to get on the same page 'very quickly' |work=Politico |date=February 13, 2017 |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/02/trump-michael-flynn-intelligence-community-scott-taylor-234954}} He criticized Trump's decision to place Steve Bannon on the National Security Council.

Asked about Trump's expenditures of millions of taxpayer dollars on the travel and security of his family, Taylor said that the expenses were "a legitimate concern" but argued that the Obama family spent similar amounts.

As of October 2018, FiveThirtyEight found that Taylor voted with Trump's position 97.8% of the time.{{cite web |url=https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/congress-trump-score/scott-taylor/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909063806/https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/congress-trump-score/scott-taylor/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 9, 2017 |title=Tracking Congress in the Age of Trump |access-date=November 10, 2018 |date=October 10, 2018 |website=FiveThirtyEight |publisher=ABC News}}

He published a book in February 2015, Trust Betrayed: Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and The Selling Out of America's National Security.{{cite book|title=Trust Betrayed: Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and the Selling Out of America's National Security|language=en|date=February 23, 2015|isbn=978-1621573272|last1=Taylor|first1=Scott|publisher=Skyhorse }} In his book, he criticized Vice President Joe Biden for revealing that it was SEAL Team Six that killed Osama bin Laden. He blamed the poor diplomatic security that led to the Benghazi fiasco on the Obama administration's desire for a "light footprint" in Libya, which he argues was caused by a foreign-policy doctrine that placed U.S. interests underneath partisan politics.{{cite news |last=Wallace |first=Allan |title=Playing politics puts administration in ex-sniper's sights |work=Pittsburgh Tribune-Review |date=February 21, 2015 |url=https://triblive.com/opinion/pagebooks/7810765-74/taylor-obama-security}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Virginia's 2nd congressional district election, 2016{{cite web |url=http://results.elections.virginia.gov/vaelections/2016%20November%20General/Site/Congress.html |title=2016 November General Congress |publisher=Virginia State Board of Elections |access-date=November 24, 2016 |archive-date=November 18, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161118024704/http://results.elections.virginia.gov/vaelections/2016%20November%20General/Site/Congress.html |url-status=dead}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Scott Taylor

|votes = 190,475

|percentage = 61.33%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Shaun D. Brown

|votes = 119,440

|percentage = 38.46%

}}

{{Election box candidate no change

|party =

|candidate = Write-in

|votes = 652

|percentage = 0.21%

}}

{{Election box total no change

|votes = 310,567

|percentage = 100.00%

}}

{{Election box hold with party link without swing

|winner= Republican Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Virginia's 2nd congressional district election, 2018{{cite web |url=https://results.elections.virginia.gov/vaelections/2018%20November%20General/Site/Congress.html |title=2018 November General Congress |publisher=Virginia State Board of Elections |access-date=December 7, 2018 |archive-date=November 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118103113/https://results.elections.virginia.gov/vaelections/2018%20November%20General/Site/Congress.html |url-status=dead}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Elaine Luria

|votes = 139,571

|percentage = 51.05%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Scott Taylor (Incumbent)

|votes = 133,458

|percentage = 48.81%

}}

{{Election box candidate no change

|party =

|candidate = Write-in

|votes = 371

|percentage = 0.14%

}}

{{Election box total no change

|votes = 273400

|percentage = 100.00%

}}

{{Election box gain with party link without swing

| winner = Democratic Party (United States)

| loser = Republican Party (United States) }}

{{Election box end}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.taylorforsenate.com/ Campaign website]
• {{C-SPAN|96047}}

{{s-start}}

{{s-par|us-va-hs}}

{{s-bef|before=Bob Tata}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
from the 85th district|years=2014–2017}}

{{s-aft|after=Rocky Holcomb}}

|-

{{s-par|us-hs}}

{{s-bef|before=Scott Rigell}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Virginia's 2nd congressional district|years=2017–2019}}

{{s-aft|after=Elaine Luria}}

|-

{{s-prec|usa}}

{{s-bef|before=Tom Garrett|as=Former US Representative}}

{{s-ttl|title=Order of precedence of the United States
{{small|as Former US Representative}}|years=}}

{{s-aft|after=Denver Riggleman|as=Former US Representative}}

{{s-end}}

{{VirginiaRepresentatives02}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Taylor, Scott}}

Category:1979 births

Category:United States Navy personnel of the Iraq War

Category:Harvard Extension School alumni

Category:Living people

Category:Republican Party members of the Virginia House of Delegates

Category:Military personnel from Baltimore

Category:Military personnel from Virginia

Category:People from Wicomico County, Maryland

Category:Politicians from Baltimore

Category:Politicians from Virginia Beach, Virginia

Category:Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Virginia

Category:United States Navy SEALs personnel

Category:Candidates in the 2020 United States House of Representatives elections

Category:21st-century Virginia politicians

Category:21st-century members of the United States House of Representatives

Category:21st-century members of the Virginia General Assembly