Will U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Hoover) run for re-election in the 2024 election cycle?
Palmer told Alabama's Morning News with JT Nysewander on 105.5 WERC on Friday that he's not going to be in Congress for "another 10 or 15 years" but left the door open to running for another term in the 2024 cycle.
Palmer signed a pledge when he was first elected in 2014 by U.S. Term Limits stating he'd serve no more than 10 years in the position, according to AL.com.
Palmer said he was "looking at" whether to run again.
"I've got a ton of people who've come to me," Palmer said. "Particularly people that I would never have thought would come to me and (said) please stay."
When asked if he planned on serving another 10, 15, or 20 years in Congress, Palmer said he was "too old for that."
"My mindset is I know people look at all of Congress and think we're all a bunch of corrupt people, but I believe the Lord led me to run," Palmer said. "People have tried to get me to run for the Senate. I don't chase things, JT, and I think you know that. I want to be where I'm supposed to be — doing what I'm supposed to be doing. I think we've got an enormous opportunity to do some things that the country desperately needs us to do."
"Get us to a balanced budget," he continued. "Start bringing down the debt-to-GDP, and I know this is all nerdy stuff. Get our energy policy right. Secure our border. We have so much turnover among Republicans. We can't get the consistency that we need. It's like a football team or another team. You keep losing people, and you really can't get together and get the things done that you need to do. We need some people that will stay there long enough to get the job done because we're constantly retraining people."
Palmer said, "I'm going to find a way to help one way or the other whether I'm in Congress or not."
"I'll be 69 in May," he added. "That clock is ticking. I'm not going to be there another 10 or 15 years. I don't want to be drooling in my oatmeal. If I'd have wanted that, I would have run for the Senate. I've got to make a decision fairly soon."
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email caleb.taylor@1819News.com.
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