Alabama’s 6th Congressional District is the suburban Birmingham seat held by Republican Gary Palmer, covering seven central Alabama counties and ranking as the wealthiest and most reliably Republican House district in the state. It spans about 4,649 square miles and roughly 728,000 residents, and its next primary falls on May 19, 2026.
Who Represents the District
Gary Palmer has held the seat since January 3, 2015, and won a sixth term in November 2024.1History, Art & Archives, U.S. House of Representatives. PALMER, Gary James He chairs the House Republican Policy Committee and has held that leadership post for three consecutive terms, giving the district a seat at the table on GOP messaging and policy.2Congressman Gary Palmer. Congressman Gary Palmer
Counties and Communities Covered
The district takes in all of Autauga, Bibb, Chilton, Coosa, Elmore, and Shelby counties, along with nearly all of Jefferson County outside Birmingham’s city limits.3Wikipedia. Alabama’s 6th Congressional District Birmingham itself sits mostly in the neighboring 7th District, so the 6th wraps around the city and pulls in its affluent suburbs: Hoover, Vestavia Hills, Mountain Brook, and Alabaster are the largest.
South and east of the Birmingham ring, the district stretches into more rural territory through Chilton, Coosa, and Autauga counties, reaching toward the outskirts of Montgomery by way of Elmore County. The mix produces a split character: wealthy and professional in the north, more agricultural and working-class the further out you go.
Population, Income, and Demographics
The population is estimated at about 728,184 in 2024 American Community Survey data, with a median household income of $86,712 — comfortably the highest of any Alabama congressional district.5Census Reporter. Congressional District 6, AL
Residents are roughly 71% White, 18% Black, and about 5.8% Hispanic.4Data USA. Congressional District 6, AL The workforce skews white-collar, reflecting the professional and financial-sector base in the metro area.
How the District Votes
The Cook Political Report assigns the 6th a Partisan Voter Index of R+20, meaning it votes about 20 points more Republican than the national average in presidential races.6Cook Political Report. Alabama 6th Congressional District – Map and Facts In the 2020 presidential race, the Republican candidate carried the district by roughly 68% to 30%, a margin that has held steady across recent cycles. The practical consequence is that the Republican primary is the only competitive election here; general elections have been formalities for decades.
2026 Election Dates and Deadlines
Alabama’s next primary is scheduled for May 19, 2026, with the general election on November 3, 2026.7Alabama Secretary of State. 2026 Election Information Voter registration closes 14 days before any election in Alabama, so residents need to register by early May to vote in the primary and by mid-October for the general.8Alabama Secretary of State. Voter Registration General Information All seven of Alabama’s U.S. House seats will be on the ballot, since representatives serve two-year terms.9U.S. Capitol Visitor Center. About Congress