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Palmer votes Sessions for Speaker of the House

Republican Gary Palmer speaks during the Alabama 6th Congressional District debate at Regions Field Thursday, June 19, 2014. (Photo: JeffCO GOP)
Republican Gary Palmer speaks during the Alabama 6th Congressional District debate at Regions Field Thursday, June 19, 2014. (Photo: JeffCO GOP)

WASHINGTON — In his first official act as a congressman, Rep. Gary Palmer (R-AL6) cast a vote for Sen. Jeff Sessions to be Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.

The Speaker of the House does not actually have to be a member of the House, although it is rare for anyone other than a House member to receive votes.

John Boehner was ultimately re-elected Speaker, in spite of a late effort by a group of staunchly conservative members to unseat him.

Besides Palmer, Alabama’s five other Republican members voted for Boehner. The state’s lone Democrat, Rep. Terri Sewell (D-AL7) cast her vote for California Rep. Nancy Pelosi.

Of Alabama’s five votes for Boehner, Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL5) was perhaps the most surprising.

Brooks has been a vocal opponent of House leadership in the past, and said he voted for Boehner “with some reluctance” because he thought he was the best of the available options.


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