Congressional Career
In 1988, Taylor ran against Democratic incumbent Jamie Clarke and lost by just over 1,500 votes. He sought a rematch against Clarke in 1990 and won by 2,700 votes. He was reelected with 54 percent of the vote in 1992, even as Bill Clinton carried the district. He was reelected six more times from the 11th, which includes most of North Carolina's share of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
According to public statements, Taylor is a great admirer of Abraham Lincoln. Political pundits were amazed that the staunchly conservative Taylor was able to build a strong foothold in a district that had long been considered marginally Democratic, but he was helped by his membership on the powerful House Appropriations Committee, as well as the 11th's tinge of social conservatism. Additionally, Taylor's wealth enabled him to self-fund most of his campaigns.
In his first term, as a member of the Gang of Seven, a group of first-term Republican Representatives, Taylor worked to expose the congressional corruption in the internal bank of the U.S. House (Rubbergate).
Read more about this topic: Charles H. Taylor
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