Taylor was first elected to Congress in 1972 , defeating future U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft in the primary .
Taylor was first was subsequently re-elected to the seven succeeding congresses , though he was nearly defeated in 1974 and 1982 .
Taylor was first elected to Congress in 1972 , defeating future U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft in the primary , and was subsequently re-elected to the seven succeeding congresses , though he was nearly defeated in 1974 and 1982 .