On Sunday, Congressman Gary Palmer (R-AL06) announced that he will seek to be elected as the next Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. However, his two primary opponents in Alabama remain skeptical about Palmer’s commitment to conservative principles.
Palmer is facing two Republican primary opponents, Ken McFeeters and Gerrick Wilkins.
Alabama Today spoke with McFeeters on Sunday about Palmer and his campaign to be Speaker of the House. McFeeters is an independent insurance agent.
“Congressman Palmer might just get the Speakership as Congress has proven it doesn’t want a true conservative by not selecting Jim Jordan, so Gary might be their man,” McFeeters said. “More status quo, more multi-billion-dollar socialist spending bills/CARES Acts, more shutdowns, more “corporatism.” If Congressman Palmer is selected, and I think that’s what Congress wants.”
McFeeters did not think that a Speaker Palmer would excite the Republican electorate.
“I wish Congress did what the people wanted on occasion,” McFeeters added. “A side note. Gary’s own constituents cannot trust him because he broke his term limits pledge. Thus, why would his colleagues trust him as their next Speaker?”
On Monday, Alabama Today spoke with Wilkins – a longtime businessman who declared his candidacy for House District six late last week.
“We do need to get the Speaker’s race resolved, but I think there are better choices than Gary Palmer,” Wilkins said. “I think Byron Donalds is the best choice in the Speaker’s race.”
“Gary started as a strong conservative, but he has lost his way,” Wilkins said. “He now sides with the establishment more than with the people. He even opposed the parent’s bill of rights.”
Wilkins objected to Palmer’s decision earlier this year to renounce his term limits pledge and run for a sixth term.
“I think what you say matters,” Wilkins said. “I have been in business for 24 years, and now I am devoting considerable time and resources to this race.”
Palmer is facing eight opponents in his bid to be the next Speaker of the House.
The House Republican Conference will meet Monday evening to select a new nominee for the open Speaker of the House race. The last two nominees, Jim Jordan and Steve Scalise could not unite the caucus.
It takes a simple majority of the Conference to win the Republican nomination, but winning the Speaker of the House position requires 217 Republicans to vote in favor of the nomination. With ultra-conservatives and more mainstream Republicans refusing to vote for the Conference’s nominee, it has been difficult for Republicans to elect a Speaker.
Palmer will still have to face McFeeters and Wilkins in the Republican primary. The major party primaries are on March 5.
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