Gary Palmer (AL-6)

Biography

Gary Palmer is a Republican representing Alabama's 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2015. Born on May 14, 1954, in Hackleburg, Marion County, Alabama, he grew up in a small town in northwest Alabama and is the first in his family to attend college. He and his wife, Ann, have three children: Claire, Kathleen, and Rob. Notable achievements include serving as president of the Alabama Policy Institute, a leading conservative think tank, for 24 years after founding it from the Alabama Family Alliance; being a founding board member and former chairman of the State Policy Network; and holding appointments to multiple Alabama state commissions under three governors. In Congress, he is a member of the House Freedom Caucus, has chaired the Republican Policy Committee since 2019 , and currently chairs the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment while serving on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee. He was reelected to a sixth term in 2024 without opposition.

Education and Political Experience

Palmer earned a B.S. in Operations Management from the University of Alabama in 1972, where he walked on to the football team under coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. After college, he worked 12 years in the private sector with major engineering and construction companies. His political experience began with co-founding and leading the Alabama Policy Institute starting in 1989 , followed by state commission roles. He entered Congress in 2014 by winning the Republican primary and general election for the 6th District, succeeding Spencer Bachus, and has won reelection in 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2024.