Nashville school board election: Robert Taylor wins District 1 seat in landslide

Democrat Robert Taylor won the race for the District 1 seat on the Metro Nashville Public Schools board in a landslide, earning 85% of the vote over Republican opponent Demytris Savage-Short.

"This victory is not just about me, it's about all of us," Taylor said in a speech at his watch party Thursday night. "It's about the parents who want the best education for their children, the teachers who give their all every single day and the students who deserve the brightest future we can offer."

He also expressed gratitude to God, his family and his campaign team as he reflected on his journey and said he was committed to fostering unity, excellence and good communication for the schools, families and children he represents.

Born in Washington and raised in Maryland, Taylor ultimately settled in Nashville in 2008 with his wife and kids. He now works as an instructor at Meharry Medical College. He previously lost a run for the District 1 seat against then-incumbent Sharon Gentry. A former family intervention specialist for the White's Creek cluster, Taylor wants to help grow family and community partnerships in a way that is consistent for all schools. He also wants to address disparities in how resources are distributed and overcrowding.

Live election results: Click here for live results from across Tennessee

Democrats dominate MNPS board races

The District 1 seat was one of five open seats on the school board. Candidates in districts 3, 5, 7 and 9 , including two incumbents, all ran unopposed.

Here's a look at those winners:

• District 3: Democrat Zach Young , a newcomer to the board
• District 5: Democrat TK Fayne , a newcomer to the board who was temporarily appointed to the seat after former board member Christiane Buggs stepped down to take on a new job
• District 7: Democrat Freda Player , an incumbent
• District 9: Democrat Abigail Tylor , an incumbent

The school board is now made up of entirely Democrats after Thursday's election.

A Tennessee law allowing school board races to be partisan took effect in 2022. It was up to Democratic and Republican leadership in Davidson County to decide if they would hold partisan school board elections. The county GOP ultimately voted to do so , while Democrats said they only would if the GOP did.

Since then, Democrats have beat out Republicans and independents alike for seats on the school board.

Reach children's reporter Rachel Wegner at RAwegner@tennessean.com or follow her on Twitter @RachelAnnWegner.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville school board election: Robert Taylor wins District 1 seat in landslide