By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
On Tuesday, July 15, Gary Palmer won a powerful mandate from Republican Party voters in the Sixth Congressional District. Gary Palmer defeated State Representative Paul DeMarco by 28 percentage points in the Tuesday runoff, 47,491 votes for Palmer to DeMarco’s 27,295.
Palmer has spent decades of his life advising policy makers as the co-founder and longtime President of the conservative Alabama Policy Institute (API) and is now likely joining Congress himself as a policy maker.
Congressman Bradley Byrne (R) from Mobile released a written statement following Tuesday’s Republican primary run-off in Alabama’s Sixth Congressional District. Rep. Byrne said, “I want to congratulate Gary Palmer on winning the GOP nomination for Alabama’s 6th Congressional District. I also want to applaud Paul DeMarco, who has given many years of service to the people of Alabama in the state legislature. I have known Gary for many years through his role with the Alabama Policy Institute, and I consider him a dear friend. I know that he has many innovative solutions and the conservative credentials that we need more of in Washington. I look forward to his victory in November and having him join our delegation next year.”
Congresswoman Martha Roby said in her statement, “Congratulations to Gary Palmer for winning the Republican nomination in the race to become Alabama’s next congressman from the 6th District,” Rep. Roby said. “Now more than ever we need determined leaders in Congress who can help our party present conservative solutions to this country’s problems. I look forward to Gary becoming a valuable part of the Alabama delegation.”
Alabama Republican Party Chairman Bill Armistead said, “With Gary Palmer’s election to Congress, I am confident that we will be sending a constitutional conservative to Washington to help our Republican majority in the House put the brakes on the runaway spending of Barack Obama, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi.”
Chairman Armistead said, “I have known Gary for many years in his role as founder and head of the Alabama Policy Institute. He is the kind of conservative congressman that will go to Washington and make a difference. Above all, Gary believes in the constitution, unlike the current occupant of the White House, and will fight every attempt by Barack Obama to undermine the principles that our founding fathers fought and died for. I congratulate Gary on his win and thank Paul DeMarco, and the other five candidates, who worked tirelessly for months to earn the right to represent the sixth district in Washington.”
John Merrill will be the Republican nominee as Secretary of State, Jim Ziegler as State Auditor and Chip Beeker as Public Service Commissioner, Place 2.
Chairman Armistead said the Repubican party is in a position have a clean sweep in November. “With Barack Obama, one of the most unpopular presidents in American history in the White House, I believe we have a good chance of running the table in November.” “With Governor Robert Bentley, U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions, Attorney General Luther Strange and our 6 Republican congressional candidates leading our ticket, I feel very good about the outcome of the General Election. I believe November will be a watershed election for the Republican Party in Alabama.”
Palmer’s campaign focused on his humble beginnings in Hackleburgh, his playing career at the University of Alabama, and solutions to the problems affecting America and the Sixth Congressional District. Palmer stresses replacing Obamacare with Health Savings Accounts and getting the economy moving by increasing American fossil fuels production.
Palmer still faces Democrat Avery Vise and Libertarian Aimee Love on the November General Election in the heavily Republican leaning Sixth Congressional District.
Palmer will be celebrating his victory with the Greater Birmingham Young Republicans at Pale Eddie’s Pour House in Birmingham on Thursday at 6:00 pm.
The Sixth Congressional District includes all or parts of Blount, Jefferson, Shelby, Chilton, Bibb, and Coosa Counties. The Sixth District is currently represented by Congressman Spencer Bachus (R) from Vestavia who is retiring after this term, his eleventh.
