U.S. House · Alabama's 6th Congressional District

Birmingham's suburbs and exurbs, including Shelby County, Tuscaloosa, and parts of central Alabama.

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

✓ Fact-checked 2026-09-25: 24 claims re-checked against their sources · 2 corrected · 0 removed

A second, independent research pass re-opened every cited source for this race and corrected or removed anything the source didn’t support.

  • Corrected a factual error: Gary Palmer's summary and record falsely stated he 'chairs the House Republican Policy Committee in the 119th Congress.' Ballotpedia's own committee-assignments section for 2025-2026 does not list this post, and Wikipedia confirms his Policy Committee chairmanship ran 2019-2025 (116th-118th Congress) and he was succeeded by Kevin Hern in January 2025. Rewrote both the summary and the record item to state he chaired the committee 2019-2025 and currently chairs the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee of Energy and Commerce; added Wikipedia as a supporting source.
  • Verified primary results (85.7%/14.3% for Palmer over Dixon on the correct, non-voided August 11 primary; 64.2% for Mercer), R+17 Cook PVI, and all other biographical and priority claims against Ballotpedia's Gary Palmer and Maurice Mercer pages; no other issues found.

On the ballot · 2 candidates

Where they stand — side by side

Only positions documented in a cited source are shown. Where an officeholder’s recorded votes speak to an issue, the votes set the position (marked “votes”). A dash means we found no clear public position — not that the candidate has none.

ISSUEGary Palmer
R
Maurice Mercer
D
Protect legal access to abortionOpposes[30][31][32]votes—
Stricter gun lawsOpposes[25][26][27][28]votes—
Expand immigration enforcement and deportationsSupports[12][13][14][15][16][17][18]votes—
Raise taxes on high earners or corporationsOpposes[13][14][15][23][22]votes—
Expand public health coverageOpposes[13][14][15][19][20]votesSupports[3]
Faster transition away from fossil fuelsOpposes[13][14][15][21][22]votes—
Raise the minimum wageOpposes[29]votesSupports[3]
Broad tariffs on imported goodsSupports[24]votes—
Universal, publicly funded child careOpposes[21]votes—

The candidates, in full

Gary Palmer

RINCUMBENTU.S. Representative for Alabama's 6th Congressional District (since 2015)

Won the August 11, 2026 Republican primary, 85.7% to 14.3%, over Case Dixon.

Gary Palmer is the incumbent Republican U.S. Representative for Alabama's 6th Congressional District, first elected in 2014. He chaired the House Republican Policy Committee from 2019 to 2025 and currently chairs the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Before Congress, he led the conservative think tank the Alabama Policy Institute.[2][4]

Key votes in Congress

  • NoWar Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities · H. Con. Res. 86 · Passed 215–208 · 2026-06-03 roll call ↗The resolution directs the President to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities with Iran that Congress has not authorized, invoking the War Powers Resolution. It passed the House with support from Democrats and a number of Republicans.
  • NoResolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · H.J. Res. 72 · Passed 219–211 · 2026-02-11 roll call ↗The resolution terminates the national emergency the President declared in February 2025 to justify a 25 percent tariff on imports from Canada, ending that tariff if it becomes law. It passed with a bipartisan majority, including several Republicans who broke with the administration on trade policy.
  • YesConsolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 — full-year government funding · H.R. 7148 · Passed 217–214 · 2026-02-03 roll call ↗The bill provides full-year discretionary appropriations for federal agencies for the remainder of fiscal year 2026, replacing the stopgap funding enacted after the fall 2025 shutdown. It sets spending levels across defense and non-defense programs through September 2026.
  • NoBreaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · H.R. 1834 · Passed 230–196 · 2026-01-08 roll call ↗The bill extends for additional years the enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits that were expanded in 2021 and had lapsed at the end of 2025, lowering health-insurance premiums for people who buy coverage on ACA marketplaces. It passed with support from nearly all Democrats and a small group of Republicans.
  • NoWar Powers Resolution on Venezuela · H. Con. Res. 64 · Failed 211–213 · 2025-12-17 roll call ↗The resolution would have directed the President to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities in or against Venezuela that Congress had not authorized. It failed after U.S. military strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels off Venezuela had raised questions in Congress about the administration's legal authority for military action in the region.
  • YesNational Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 — final passage · S. 1071 · Passed 312–112 · 2025-12-10 roll call ↗The fiscal year 2026 NDAA authorizes roughly $900 billion in defense spending, including a pay raise for service members and funding for shipbuilding, munitions, and missile-defense programs. It also sets policy on military personnel, procurement, and other Defense Department programs for the year.
  • YesEpstein Files Transparency Act · H.R. 4405 · Passed 427–1 · 2025-11-18 roll call ↗The bill directs the Department of Justice to publicly release its investigative files related to Jeffrey Epstein within 30 days, while allowing redactions to protect victim identities, ongoing investigations, and law enforcement techniques. It passed with near-unanimous support.
  • YesContinuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 — shutdown-ending vote · H.R. 5371 · Passed 222–209 · 2025-11-12 roll call ↗The bill reopened the federal government after a 43-day shutdown by funding most agencies through January 30, 2026, and providing full-year funding for a smaller group of agencies through September 2026. It also reversed shutdown-related federal layoffs and funded SNAP benefits retroactively.
  • YesCLARITY Act — digital asset market structure · H.R. 3633 · Passed 294–134 · 2025-07-17 roll call ↗The CLARITY Act creates a regulatory framework dividing oversight of digital assets between the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. It sets registration and disclosure requirements for cryptocurrency exchanges and other digital-asset intermediaries.
  • YesGENIUS Act — stablecoin regulation · S. 1582 · Passed 308–122 · 2025-07-17 roll call ↗The GENIUS Act creates a federal regulatory framework for payment stablecoins, requiring issuers to hold reserves backing their tokens on a one-to-one basis and to comply with new disclosure and licensing rules. It was the first major piece of cryptocurrency legislation enacted into federal law.
  • YesOne Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · H.R. 1 · Passed 218–214 · 2025-07-03 roll call ↗H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, extends and expands the 2017 tax cuts, adds new deductions for tips, overtime pay, and seniors, and raises the cap on state and local tax deductions. It increases border security and defense spending while cutting projected Medicaid and SNAP spending and adding new work requirements; President Trump signed it into law on July 4, 2025.
  • YesRescissions Act of 2025 · H.R. 4 · Passed 214–212 · 2025-06-12 roll call ↗The Rescissions Act canceled about $9 billion in previously approved federal spending, mostly for foreign aid programs and for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. It was the first rescissions package Congress had approved in decades.
  • YesOne Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · H.R. 1 · Passed 215–214 · 2025-05-22 roll call ↗H.R. 1 extends and modifies the 2017 individual and business tax cuts, creates new deductions for tips and overtime pay, and increases spending on border security and defense. It also reduces projected spending on Medicaid and food-assistance programs and adds new work requirements for some recipients.
  • YesSAVE Act — proof-of-citizenship voter registration · H.R. 22 · Passed 220–208 · 2025-04-10 roll call ↗The SAVE Act would require individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship in person when registering to vote in federal elections. It also directs states to establish procedures to remove noncitizens identified on voter rolls.
  • YesFull-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 · H.R. 1968 · Passed 217–213 · 2025-03-11 roll call ↗The bill funded the federal government through the remainder of fiscal year 2025, largely at prior-year spending levels, averting a shutdown ahead of a March 14 deadline. It also extended several expiring health and other program authorizations.
  • YesLaken Riley Act — final passage · S. 5 · Passed 263–156 · 2025-01-22 roll call ↗The Laken Riley Act requires the Department of Homeland Security to detain undocumented immigrants who are arrested, charged, or convicted for theft, burglary, or certain violent crimes. It also allows state attorneys general to sue the federal government over certain immigration enforcement decisions.
  • YesSecure the Border Act of 2023 — House passage · H.R. 2 · Passed 219–213 · 2023-05-11 roll call ↗Would have resumed border-wall construction, restricted asylum eligibility, expanded detention, and mandated E-Verify for employers.
  • NoInflation Reduction Act — final House passage · H.R. 5376 · Passed 220–207 · 2022-08-12 roll call ↗Enacted clean-energy and climate tax credits, a 15% minimum tax on large corporations' book income, a 1% excise tax on stock buybacks, and Medicare drug-price negotiation.
  • NoAssault Weapons Ban of 2022 — House passage · H.R. 1808 · Passed 217–213 · 2022-07-29 roll call ↗Would have banned the sale, manufacture and import of many semiautomatic assault weapons and large-capacity magazines.
  • NoWomen's Health Protection Act of 2022 — House passage · H.R. 8296 · Passed 219–210 · 2022-07-15 roll call ↗Passed after Dobbs; would have created a federal statutory right to abortion services and limited state restrictions.
  • NoBipartisan Safer Communities Act — final House passage · S. 2938 · Passed 234–193 · 2022-06-24 roll call ↗Expanded background checks for buyers under 21, funded state red-flag and crisis-intervention programs, and narrowed the "boyfriend loophole."
  • NoBuild Back Better Act — House passage · H.R. 5376 · Passed 220–213 · 2021-11-19 roll call ↗Would have funded clean-energy tax credits, universal pre-kindergarten and child-care subsidies, and extended health-coverage subsidies; it did not pass the Senate.
  • NoWomen's Health Protection Act of 2021 — House passage · H.R. 3755 · Passed 218–211 · 2021-09-24 roll call ↗Would have created a federal statutory right for providers to offer, and patients to receive, abortion services, limiting state restrictions.
  • NoAmerican Dream and Promise Act of 2021 — House passage · H.R. 6 · Passed 228–197 · 2021-03-18 roll call ↗Would have created a path to permanent legal status for many undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children and for certain TPS and DED holders.
  • NoRaise the Wage Act — House passage · H.R. 582 · Passed 231–199 · 2019-07-18 roll call ↗Would have raised the federal minimum wage in steps from $7.25 to $15 an hour by 2025.
  • NoAmerican Dream and Promise Act of 2019 — House passage · H.R. 6 · Passed 237–187 · 2019-06-04 roll call ↗Would have created a path to permanent legal status for many undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children and for certain TPS and DED holders.
  • NoBipartisan Background Checks Act — House passage · H.R. 8 · Passed 240–190 · 2019-02-27 roll call ↗Would have required background checks for most firearm transfers between private parties.
  • YesTax Cuts and Jobs Act — final House passage · H.R. 1 · Passed 224–201 · 2017-12-20 roll call ↗Cut the corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% and lowered individual rates, including the top rate from 39.6% to 37% (individual provisions set to expire after 2025).
  • YesConcealed Carry Reciprocity Act — House passage · H.R. 38 · Passed 231–198 · 2017-12-06 roll call ↗Would have required states to recognize concealed-carry permits issued by other states.
  • YesPain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act — House passage · H.R. 36 · Passed 237–189 · 2017-10-03 roll call ↗Would have banned most abortions after 20 weeks post-fertilization, with limited exceptions.
  • YesAmerican Health Care Act — House passage · H.R. 1628 · Passed 217–213 · 2017-05-04 roll call ↗Would have repealed the ACA individual mandate penalty, converted federal Medicaid funding to per-capita caps, and ended enhanced funding for the Medicaid expansion.

On the record — official actions

  • actionServed as chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee from 2019 to 2025 (116th through 118th Congress); elected to the post in November 2018 and re-elected unopposed in November 2022. Kevin Hern succeeded him as chairman at the start of the 119th Congress in January 2025.[2][4]
  • actionChairs the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and serves on its Energy and Environment subcommittees in the 119th Congress (2025-2026).[2]
  • actionServes on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs; Government Operations subcommittees) in the 119th Congress.[2]
  • bill2026-06-11 · Sponsored the ZOMBIE Act, which passed the House in June 2026 and requires federal agencies to identify and recover improper payments.[6]

Positions on the issues

  • OpposesStricter gun lawsFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on Bipartisan Background Checks Act (H.R. 8, 2019-02-27). Voted no on Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 (H.R. 1808, 2022-07-29). Voted no on Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (S. 2938, 2022-06-24). Voted yes on Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act (H.R. 38, 2017-12-06).[25][26][27][28]

    What they say: Cosponsored and voted for H.R. 38, the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, and says restrictions on gun ownership are unconstitutional and harm law-abiding citizens.[7][10]

    “As a staunch supporter of the 2nd Amendment, I am a proud cosponsor of and voted in favor of H.R. 38 today. This bill protects the constitutional right for law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms and ensures that the right does not end when you cross a state line. Overreaching restrictions placed on gun ownership are not only unconstitutional, they inevitably harm law-abiding citizens and do little to dissuade the illegal use of firearms.”
  • OpposesExpand public health coverageFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which reduced federal Medicaid spending and added Medicaid work requirements. Voted no on Breaking the Gridlock Act (H.R. 1834, 2026-01-08). Voted yes on American Health Care Act (H.R. 1628, 2017-05-04), which would have capped federal Medicaid funding and ended enhanced funding for the Medicaid expansion.[13][14][15][19][20]

    What they say: Applauded the 2015 reconciliation bill repealing major components of the Affordable Care Act, including the Medicaid expansion, premium tax credits, and individual and employer mandates, calling the ACA a failure.[8]

    “Obamacare is a massive federal takeover of our health care industry that takes away choices from people and limits our freedom.”
  • OpposesProtect legal access to abortionFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on Women's Health Protection Act of 2021 (H.R. 3755, 2021-09-24). Voted no on Women's Health Protection Act of 2022 (H.R. 8296, 2022-07-15). Voted yes on Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (H.R. 36, 2017-10-03).[30][31][32]

    What they say: Voted to create a House select panel to investigate fetal tissue procurement and abortion providers' federal funding, saying Congress has an obligation to protect the unborn.[9][11]

    “We have an obligation to protect the unborn and should take every opportunity to do so.”
  • OpposesFaster transition away from fossil fuelsFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which phased out Inflation Reduction Act clean-energy tax credits. Voted no on Build Back Better Act (H.R. 5376, 2021-11-19; 2022-08-12), which would have funded clean-energy tax credits.[13][14][15][21][22]

    What they say: As chair of the Energy and Commerce Environment Subcommittee, describes himself as a skeptic of renewable energy and environmental regulations, calling the idea of meeting baseload power demand with renewables "insane," and prioritizes boosting domestic mineral and energy production over emissions rules.[5]

  • SupportsExpand immigration enforcement and deportationsFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on Laken Riley Act (S. 5, 2025-01-22). Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which funded expanded immigration enforcement, detention and border operations. Voted yes on Secure the Border Act of 2023 (H.R. 2, 2023-05-11). Voted no on American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 (H.R. 6, 2019-06-04; 2021-03-18).[12][13][14][15][16][17][18]

  • OpposesRaise taxes on high earners or corporationsFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03; 2017-12-20), which made the 2017 individual tax rates, including the 37% top rate, permanent. Voted no on Inflation Reduction Act (H.R. 5376, 2022-08-12), which added a 15% minimum tax on large corporations and a stock-buyback excise tax.[13][14][15][23][22]

  • SupportsBroad tariffs on imported goodsFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada (H.J. Res. 72, 2026-02-11).[24]

  • OpposesUniversal, publicly funded child careFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on Build Back Better Act (H.R. 5376, 2021-11-19), which would have funded universal pre-K and child-care subsidies.[21]

  • OpposesRaise the minimum wageFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on Raise the Wage Act (H.R. 582, 2019-07-18).[29]

In their words — priorities

  • As chair of the Energy and Commerce Environment Subcommittee, says securing the domestic supply chain of critical minerals, including refining and processing rare earth elements, is his top priority, citing reliance on China as a threat to economic and national security.[5]
  • Says the ZOMBIE Act, which he sponsored and which passed the House in June 2026, requires federal agencies to hunt down improper payments to combat government waste.[6]

Background

  • Born in Haleyville, Alabama, in 1954; earned a bachelor's degree in operations management from the University of Alabama in 1977.[2]
  • Led the Alabama Policy Institute, a conservative think tank, and served on Governor Robert Bentley's Alabama Commission on Improving State Government before his election to Congress.[2]

Campaign money

Raised $1.1M · spent $946K · $261K cash on hand (through 2026-07-22) FEC filing ↗

Maurice Mercer

DFormer Pelham City Council member (2012–2025)

Won the August 11, 2026 Democratic primary with 64.2% of the vote over three other candidates.

Maurice Mercer is a business account executive and former Pelham City Council member running as the Democratic nominee for Alabama's 6th Congressional District. He served three terms on the Pelham City Council, including as council president from 2020 to 2025, and was the council's first African American member.[3]

Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.

On the record — official actions

  • actionServed three terms on the Pelham City Council (2012–2025), including as council president from 2020 to 2025.[3]

Positions on the issues

  • SupportsRaise the minimum wage

    Says he would like to see the federal minimum wage raised.[3]

  • SupportsExpand public health coverage

    Says he is passionate about "healthcare for all" and supports expanding access to affordable healthcare and protecting rural providers.[3]

In their words — priorities

  • "Community First, Country Forward": says he has worked across party lines throughout his career and wants to restore civility to public office.[3]
  • Education and workforce development, including support for expanded career and technical education, apprenticeships, and raising the federal minimum wage.[3]
  • Healthcare access, including expanding affordable healthcare, protecting rural healthcare providers, and improving mental-health services.[3]

Background

  • Earned a high school diploma from Midfield High School and a bachelor's degree in business administration from Troy University in 2004.[3]
  • Served on the Pelham City Council from 2012 to 2025, including as council president from 2020 to 2025; earned the Advanced Certified Municipal Officer designation and was named Public Servant of the Year three years in a row.[3]

Campaign money

Raised $6,539 · spent $4,676 · $1,863 cash on hand (through 2026-06-30) FEC filing ↗

Sources · 32

Researched 2026-09-25. Green citations are official government records.

  1. 1.United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama, 2026 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  2. 2.Gary Palmer · Ballotpedia Reference
  3. 3.Maurice Mercer · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey Candidate's own words
  4. 4.Gary Palmer · Wikipedia Reference
  5. 5.Q&A: New environment chair to focus on China, minerals · POLITICO E&E News (via Rep. Palmer's official site) · 2025-07-25 News report
  6. 6.Spending Cuts and Debt · Office of Rep. Gary Palmer · 2026-06-11 Candidate's own words
  7. 7.Palmer Votes to Defend 2nd Amendment Rights · Office of Rep. Gary Palmer · 2017-12-06 Candidate's own words
  8. 8.Palmer: Obamacare Repeal Offers Voters a Choice · Office of Rep. Gary Palmer · 2016-01-06 Candidate's own words
  9. 9.Palmer Supports Creating Select Investigative Panel To Investigate Fetal Tissue Procurement, Other Abortion Practices · Office of Rep. Gary Palmer · 2015-10-07 Candidate's own words
  10. 10.Roll Call 663 — On Passage: H.R. 38, Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017 · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives · 2017-12-06 Official record
  11. 11.Roll Call 538 — On Agreeing to the Resolution, As Amended: H.Res. 461 (Select Investigative Panel) · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives · 2015-10-07 Official record
  12. 12.Roll call: Laken Riley Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-01-22 Official record
  13. 13.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-05-22 Official record
  14. 14.H.R. 1 (119th Congress) — One Big Beautiful Bill Act: text and summary · Congress.gov Official record
  15. 15.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-07-03 Official record
  16. 16.Roll call: Secure the Border Act of 2023 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2023-05-11 Official record
  17. 17.Roll call: American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2019-06-04 Official record
  18. 18.Roll call: American Dream and Promise Act of 2021 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2021-03-18 Official record
  19. 19.Roll call: Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-01-08 Official record
  20. 20.Roll call: American Health Care Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2017-05-04 Official record
  21. 21.Roll call: Build Back Better Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2021-11-19 Official record
  22. 22.Roll call: Inflation Reduction Act — final House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-08-12 Official record
  23. 23.Roll call: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act — final House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2017-12-20 Official record
  24. 24.Roll call: Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-02-11 Official record
  25. 25.Roll call: Bipartisan Background Checks Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2019-02-27 Official record
  26. 26.Roll call: Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-07-29 Official record
  27. 27.Roll call: Bipartisan Safer Communities Act — final House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-06-24 Official record
  28. 28.Roll call: Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2017-12-06 Official record
  29. 29.Roll call: Raise the Wage Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2019-07-18 Official record
  30. 30.Roll call: Women's Health Protection Act of 2021 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2021-09-24 Official record
  31. 31.Roll call: Women's Health Protection Act of 2022 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-07-15 Official record
  32. 32.Roll call: Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2017-10-03 Official record