 In 1873, for the Thirteenth Texas Legislature, Taylor was elected Speaker for an unprecedented third time, defeating W. A. Ellett 76 votes to 10.Taylor was very active in Democratic Party affairs, attending the Democratic State Conventions in 1872 and 1888, while serving as president of the 1876, 1878, and 1880 state conventions.Taylor was also a delegate to the 1876 Democratic National Convention in St. Louis.