Gary Palmer is the incumbent U.S. Representative for Alabama's 6th congressional district, first elected in 2014 and now seeking a seventh term. He previously served as president of the Alabama Policy Institute, a conservative think tank, and chaired the House Republican Policy Committee from 2019 to 2025. Trump-endorsed Palmer won the August 11, 2026 Republican primary with about 86% of the vote, defeating Case Dixon, and will face Democrat Maurice Mercer in the November 3 general election.
Palmer’s official health-care page documents support for repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act, including his 2017 vote for the American Health Care Act, and opposition to federal health-insurance mandates. No newer health-care position was identified in the post–August 24, 2026 search.
Gary Palmer says free markets create opportunity when government removes unnecessary barriers. He supports expanding domestic energy production, reducing regulatory burdens on businesses, and using private-sector investment to create jobs, lower costs, promote innovation, and sustain long-term economic growth; his campaign also identifies combating inflation and lowering energy costs as priorities.
Palmer's public record emphasizes expanding domestic production of critical minerals and reducing dependence on China, while opposing stricter emissions and environmental regulations he views as burdensome. His congressional office highlighted his support for legislation to reverse the Biden-era Department of Energy rule concerning natural-gas water heaters and described him as pushing back on renewable-energy mandates and EPA rules; the office also reported his involvement in efforts to revoke California's Clean Air Act emissions waivers.
In a June 24, 2026 official statement marking the Dobbs anniversary, Gary Palmer said the Supreme Court correctly held that the Constitution does not contain a right to abortion and that Dobbs properly returned abortion policy to the states and elected representatives. He said he supports policies protecting unborn children, supporting mothers and families, and upholding the dignity and value of human life; no newer statement after August 24, 2026 was located in the searches conducted.
Palmer supports increased federal immigration enforcement and border security. On June 9, 2026, he voted for S. 2, the Secure America Act, and said funding CBP and ICE was necessary to secure the border, enforce immigration laws, stop illegal immigration, combat human trafficking and drug smuggling, and protect communities.
Gary Palmer describes himself as a gun owner and supporter of the Second Amendment. His official congressional issue page records opposition to President Obama's 2016 executive actions on firearms as constitutionally beyond the president's authority and ineffective, and records his 2017 vote for H.R. 38, the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act; no newer firearms-specific position was identified in searches conducted after August 24, 2026.
On July 23, 2026, Palmer voted Nay on H.Con.Res. 89, which would have directed the president to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities with Iran under the War Powers Resolution. This vote indicates opposition to that effort to terminate U.S. military involvement in the Iran conflict; his official Foreign Affairs page otherwise provides no current detailed policy platform and chiefly links to older statements, including opposition to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.
Palmer opposes same-sex marriage, saying marriage is the union of a man and a woman, and has stated that allowing transgender people to use the bathroom of their choice is something 'no reasonable person' would allow, citing safety concerns. He has not supported the Equality Act (H.R. 15).
Palmer's official congressional materials emphasize access to postsecondary opportunities: his office provides student-financial-aid information and administers congressional nominations to the U.S. service academies. In a March 2026 release, he nominated 29 students from Alabama's 6th District and described academy education, leadership development, and training as valuable opportunities; the official education page does not present a broader current K-12 or federal education agenda.
Gary Palmer has supported federal initiatives to advance U.S. artificial-intelligence capabilities and workforce readiness. In the 119th Congress, he was listed as a cosponsor of the bipartisan CREATE AI Act of 2025 and the Protect American AI Act of 2026; these actions indicate support for federal AI research/education and protecting U.S. AI leadership, although the available sources do not establish a comprehensive position on AI regulation or data-center policy.
Palmer supports requiring proof of U.S. citizenship—and voter identification—for registration and voting in federal elections. In an August 2026 interview after the Alabama 6th District Republican primary, he said he wanted Congress to pass the SAVE Act, arguing that only citizens should vote and that the measure would restore public confidence; he also backed the Citizen Ballot Protection Act to allow states to require citizenship proof on mail-voting applications.
Palmer's official congressional materials do not state a distinct policy platform labeled “Local Issues.” They emphasize constituent services for Alabama's 6th District, including district offices, assistance with federal agencies, and community-resource information for constituents; the issues page directs visitors to separate policy topics such as transportation, education, health care, and jobs rather than identifying a standalone local-issues agenda.
Palmer’s official health-care page documents support for repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act, including his 2017 vote for the American Health Care Act, and opposition to federal health-insurance mandates. No newer health-care position was identified in the post–August 24, 2026 search.
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Background
Career History
U.S. Representative2015 – Present
United States House of Representatives
Representing Alabama's 6th congressional district. Former member of the House Freedom Caucus.
Chair, Republican Policy Committee2019 – 2025
U.S. House of Representatives
Led the committee that shapes House Republican policy priorities.
President1989 – 2014
Alabama Policy Institute
Co-founded and led this conservative think tank for 25 years.
Founding Board Member / Chairman1992 – 2014
State Policy Network
Co-founded this umbrella organization for conservative and libertarian state-level think tanks; served on its board for six years, the last two as chairman.
Education
University of AlabamaBachelor of Science in Operations Management (1976)
University of MobileHonorary Doctorate
Top Donors
Raised approximately $1.05M in the 2026 cycle (through July 22, 2026), with $550K from individual contributions and $464K from PACs/committees. Top contributing employers include Medical Properties Trust ($18K), Brasfield & Gorrie ($12K), Newcastle Construction ($10K), and Hunt Consolidated ($7K), reflecting strong construction, real estate, and financial-sector support. Alabama-based donors contributed roughly $400K, with Texas ($45K) and Florida ($30K) as the next largest donor states.
Incumbent Republican serving Alabama's 6th District since 2015. Scored 96% on the Heritage Action Scorecard for the 119th Congress (2025-2026), reflecting strong conservative alignment. Serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and has focused on energy permitting reform, reducing federal regulation, and fiscal conservatism. Voted in favor of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1) in 2025 and has consistently supported conservative positions on abortion, immigration, and spending.