Robert Aderholt

Robert Brown Aderholt[1] (born July 22, 1965) is an American politician and attorney serving as the U.S. Representative for Alabama's 4th congressional district, serving since 1997. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district includes most of Tuscaloosa County north of the Black Warrior River, as well as the far northern suburbs of Birmingham in Walker County and the southern suburbs of Huntsville and Decatur.

Robert Aderholt
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Alabama's 4th district
Assumed office
January 3, 1997
Preceded byTom Bevill
Judge of the Haleyville Municipal Court
In office
1992–1995
Personal details
Born
Robert Brown Aderholt

(1965-07-22) July 22, 1965
Haleyville, Alabama, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Caroline McDonald
EducationBirmingham–Southern College (BA)
Samford University (JD)

Aderholt is a member of the congressional Tea Party Caucus and has taken conservative stands on issues such as abortion, tax reform, and defense spending.[2]

Early life, education and career

Aderholt was born in Haleyville, Alabama, to Mary Frances Brown and Bobby Ray Aderholt.[3] Aderholt's father, a part-time minister for a small group of Congregational churches in northwest Alabama, was a circuit judge for more than 30 years. He attended the University of North Alabama and then Birmingham-Southern College from which he graduated. During college, Aderholt was a member of Kappa Alpha Order. Aderholt received his J.D. from the Samford University Cumberland School of Law and practiced law after graduation.

In 1992, Aderholt was appointed Haleyville municipal judge.[4] In the same year, he was a delegate to the Republican National Convention. In 1995, he became the top aide to Governor Fob James. He won the 1996 Republican primary in the race to succeed 15-term Democratic incumbent Tom Bevill.

U.S. House of Representatives
Aderholt greeting President George W. Bush in 2005
Aderholt with President Donald Trump in 2019
Robert Aderholt during a meeting of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe in 2017

Committee assignments

Caucuses

Bills sponsored

Sponsor HR 3808: Interstate Recognition of Notarizations Act of 2010, 111th Congress

The bill was cosponsored by Reps. Bruce Braley (D., Iowa), Michael Castle (R., Del.), and Artur Davis (D., Ala.).

H.R. 3808 Interstate Recognition of Notarizations Act of 2010 – To require any Federal or State court to recognize any notarization made by a notary public licensed by a State other than the State where the court is located when such notarization occurs in or affects interstate commerce.

April 27, 2010: This bill passed in the House of Representatives by voice vote. A record of each representative's position was not kept.

September 27, 2010: This bill passed in the Senate by Unanimous Consent. A record of each senator's position was not kept.

October 8, 2010: Vetoed by President.

H.R. 2017 Continuing Appropriations Act, 2012

May 26, 2011: Introduced

June 2, 2011: Passed House with amendments

September 26, 2011: Passed Senate with amendments

September 30, 2011: Became Public Law 112-33[7]

Political campaigns

As the Republican nominee, Aderholt faced a considerable challenge against State Senator Bob Wilson Jr., who called himself a Democrat "in the Tom Bevill tradition". This was a seriously contested race, receiving a deal of national coverage and significant support from the Republican Party. Newt Gingrich personally visited the district during the campaign. Aderholt won narrowly, 50%–48%, becoming only the second Republican to represent this district since Reconstruction. The first, Jim Martin, was swept into office in what was then the 7th District during the 1964 wave that delivered the state's electoral votes to Barry Goldwater. Aderholt has never faced another contest nearly that close, and has been reelected nine times. He even ran unopposed in 2004, 2010, 2014, and 2016.

Aderholt's increasing margins reflected the growing Republican trend in this part of Alabama. While Democrats still have a majority in voter registration, the district's Democrats are very conservative on social issues, even by Alabama standards. With a Cook Partisan Voting Index of R+30, it is the fifth-most Republican district in the nation and the third-most Republican district east of the Mississippi.

2010 campaign

2012 campaign

Aderholt was reelected in the November election where he beat State representative Daniel Boman, the Democratic nominee.[8] In 2012 Aderholt raised $1,207,484.98 for his campaign, but spent only $963,859.15. Parker Towing was his largest contributor, providing $24,000.00. $493,856, 41% of his contributions came from large individual contributions. $583,000, 48% came from PACs.[9]

Robert and Carolina Aderholt at the 2018 March for Life in Washington, D.C.

Political positions

Abortion

During the "March for Life" rally in Washington on January 22, 2010, he said, "The issue of abortion and the sanctity of life is something that I feel strongly about and I encourage my colleagues to look for ways to curb and stop abortions in the United States, while compassionately educating on this important issue."[10]

Budget and economy

He does not support reducing the defense budget to close the American deficit, and in May 2012 said "cuts to defense budgets – the federal government's primary Constitutional responsibility – shouldn't be the relief valve for uncontrolled domestic program spending".[11]

Civil rights

Aderholt is opposed to same-sex marriage. He has received high ratings from the Family Research Council, the Traditional Values Coalition, and the American Family Association.[9] In 2013, the Human Rights Campaign gave him a score of 0 on its Congressional Scorecard.[12]

Environment

During the 2013 111th Congress, Aderholt voted for the amendment by Rep. Scalise (R-LA)[Notes 1] which would "require that Congress be allowed to vote on any executive regulation that would impose any tax, price, or levy upon carbon emissions... effectively prevents the executive branch from levying any form of carbon tax without Congressional approval. Since a carbon tax would be tremendously destructive to the economy as a whole, this measure would hopefully make such a tax unlikely to pass."[13] Aderholt opposed regulations on greenhouse gas emissions, and in December 2008 helped write a letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which stated, "I am opposed to any attempt to impose greenhouse gas regulations under the Clean Air Act on the agricultural industry."[14] Aderholt was against the policies proposed by the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference as well as the US proposed Cap and Trade Bill, part of what he argued was an "unrealistic carbon emissions reduction mandate" that would result in a loss of American jobs. He agreed with the denialist Oregon Petition[15] that, "[t]here is no convincing scientific evidence that human release of carbon dioxide, methane, or other greenhouse gases is causing, or will in the foreseeable future, cause catastrophic heating of the Earth's atmosphere and disruption of the Earth's climate."[16]

Gun policy

Aderholt is a supporter of gun rights. He was endorsed by the National Rifle Association in the 2010 general election,[17] and received $2,000 from them.[18]

In the wake of the 2016 Orlando nightclub shooting, Aderholt called it a terrorist attack and stated "we do not have the luxury of debating the political correctness of 'radical Islam'." He stated a need to "hunt down those who would do us harm". He opposed the media and President Obama using the shooting to "push any type of political agenda relating to gun control. He made a call to the White House and Congress to "protect the homeland".[19]

Health care

In 2019, Aderholt introduced a bill to raise the minimum age to purchase tobacco to 21 years of age.[20]

Regulatory reform

In December 2011, Aderholt voted in support of H.R. 10, the "Regulations From the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act", which would have required congressional approval for any "major regulations" issued by the executive branch but, unlike the 1996 Congressional Review Act, would not require the president's signature or override of a probable presidential veto.[21][22]

Tax policy

Aderholt is a signer of Americans for Tax Reform's Taxpayer Protection Pledge.[23]

He voted in favor of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.[24] Aderholt said he voted for the bill "to give back more money to Alabama taxpayers".[25] He also stated that the bill "does the right thing". He cited the raising of the child tax credit, changes to the state and local tax deductions, and stated, "more than 80% the people in the 4th District of Alabama will receive a tax cut." Aderholt also says that more businesses will stay in the US due to a lower corporate tax rate and therefore the act is a "jobs bill".[26]

Electoral history
Alabama's 4th congressional district Republican primary, 1996
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Robert Aderholt 10,410 48.8
Republican Kerry Rich 5,860 27.5
Republican Barry Guess 2,434 11.4
Republican Mickey Moseley 1,596 7.5
Republican Ronny Branham 1,021 4.8
Total votes 21,321 100.0
Alabama's 4th congressional district election, 1996
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Robert B. Aderholt 102,741 49.9
Democratic Bob Wilson Jr. 99,250 48.2
Libertarian Alan F. Barksdale 3,718 1.8
Total votes 205,709 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic
Alabama's 4th congressional district election, 1998
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Robert Aderholt (incumbent) 106,297 56.4
Democratic Donald H. Bevill 82,065 43.6
Total votes 188,362 100.0
Republican hold
Alabama's 4th congressional district election, 2000
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Robert Aderholt (incumbent) 140,009 60.9
Democratic Marsha Folsom 86,400 37.6
Libertarian Craig Goodrich 3,519 1.5
Total votes 229,928 100.0
Republican hold
Alabama's 4th congressional district election, 2002
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Robert Aderholt (incumbent) 139,705 87.0
Libertarian Tony H. McLendon 20,858 13.0
Total votes 160,563 100.0
Republican hold
Alabama's 4th congressional district election, 2004
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Robert Aderholt (incumbent) 191,110 74.8
Democratic Carl Cole 64,278 25.2
Total votes 255,388 100.0
Republican hold
Alabama's 4th congressional district election, 2006
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Robert Aderholt (incumbent) 130,385 70.6
Democratic Barbara Bobo 54,382 29.4
Total votes 184,767 100.0
Republican hold
Alabama's 4th congressional district election, 2008
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Robert Aderholt (incumbent) 196,741 74.9
Democratic Nicholas B. Sparks 66,077 25.1
Total votes 262,818 100.0
Republican hold
Alabama's 4th congressional district election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Robert Aderholt (incumbent) 167,714 100.0
Total votes 167,714 100.0
Republican hold
Alabama's 4th congressional district election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Robert Aderholt (incumbent) 197,736 74.0
Democratic Daniel Boman 69,427 26.0
Total votes 267,163 100.0
Republican hold

[27]

Alabama's 4th congressional district election, 2014
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Robert Aderholt (incumbent) 132,831 98.6
Write-in 1,921 1.4
Total votes 134,752 100.0
Republican hold
Alabama's 4th congressional district Republican primary, 2016
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Robert Aderholt (incumbent) 86,660 81.2
Republican Phil Norris 20,096 18.8
Total votes 106,756 100.0

[28]

Alabama's 4th congressional district election, 2016
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Robert Aderholt (incumbent) 235,925 98.5
Write-in 3,519 1.5
Total votes 239,444 100.0
Republican hold
Alabama's 4th congressional district Republican primary, 2018
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Robert Aderholt (incumbent) 93,959 81.5
Republican Anthony Blackmon 21,366 18.5
Total votes 115,235 100.0
Alabama's 4th congressional district election, 2018
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Robert Aderholt (incumbent) 184,255 79.8
Democratic Lee Auman 46,492 20.1
Total votes 230,969 100.0
Republican hold
Alabama's 4th congressional district election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Robert Aderholt (incumbent)
Democratic Rick Neighbors
Total votes
Aderholt with his daughter, Mary Elliott, while sheltering-in-place during the COVID-19 pandemic in Alabama.

Personal life

Aderholt is married to Caroline McDonald. Her father Albert McDonald served in the Alabama State Senate and was Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries.[29] They have two children, Robert Hayes and Mary Elliott Aderholt.[30]

Honors

Aderholt has been awarded the following foreign honor:

Notes
  1. H. Amendment: H.Amdt. 448 to H.R. 367

Citations
  1. "U.S. House of Representatives". February 23, 2005. Archived from the original on February 23, 2005.
  2. Orndorff Troyan, Mary (August 4, 2010). "Alabama Rep. Robert Aderholt joins congressional Tea Party Caucus". AL.com. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  3. "John-C-Elliott - User Trees". familytreemaker.genealogy.com. Retrieved May 20, 2018.
  4. McCutcheon, Michael; Barone, Chuck (2013). 2014 Almanac of American Politics. The University of Chicago Press.
  5. "Members". Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
  6. "Our Members". U.S. House of Representatives International Conservation Caucus. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
  7. "H.R.2017 - Continuing Appropriations Act, 2012". Congress.gov. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
  8. "Alabama Secretary of State" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 11, 2012.
  9. VoteSmart 2012.
  10. Baragona, Justin. "Taking Back the House, Vol. 3: Robert Aderholt and Alabama's 4th District". PoliticalUSA. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  11. "Redstone's Pivotal Role in Nation's Technology Must be Protected, says Rep. Robert Aderholt". AL.com. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
  12. "Congressional Scorecard: Measuring Support for Equality in the 112th Congress" (PDF). Human Rights Campaign. Retrieved August 5, 2014.
  13. Freedom Works 2013.
  14. "Inhofe Says EPA's New Boiler Rule Could Kill Nearly 800,000 Manufacturing Jobs". Fox News. September 28, 2010. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
  15. Global warming petition project, Global warming petition project, retrieved September 21, 2013
  16. Aderhodt 2010.
  17. "Obama to present gun agenda; all but one Alabama representative supported by NRA". On The Issues. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
  18. "Robert Aderholt on Gun Control". Challen Stevens. Retrieved August 5, 2014.
  19. Berkowitz, Bonnie; Cai, Weiyi; Lu, Denise; Gamio, Lazaro. "Everything lawmakers said (and didn't say) after the Orlando mass shooting". Washington Post. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  20. Ary, Patrick (April 4, 2019). "U.S. Rep. Aderholt wants to raise age for buying tobacco to 21". WHNT. Archived from the original on April 5, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  21. Sonmez, Felicia (December 7, 2011). "REINS bill to expand congressional power over executive regulations passed by House". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 10, 2013.
  22. "Robert Aderholt | FreedomWorks Key Voting Record". Congressional Scorecard - FreedomWorks.
  23. ATR 2010.
  24. Almukhtar, Sarah (December 19, 2017). "How Each House Member Voted on the Tax Bill". The New York Times. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
  25. Hagstrom, Jerry. "Senate Passes Tax Bill Late Tuesday, But Rules Force House to Revote Wednesday". DTN Progressive Farmer. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
  26. "House passes $1.5T tax bill, delivering on a major piece of GOP agenda". WHNT.com. December 19, 2017. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
  27. "2014 Certified General Election Results" (PDF). Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  28. "2016 Certified General Election Results" (PDF). Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  29. 'Funeral Service set for Albert McDonald, former state senator and ag commissioner from Madison,' AL.com., Steve Doyle, July 7, 2014
  30. "About Robert". Congressman Robert Aderholt. December 3, 2012. Retrieved May 20, 2018.
  31. "Klaus Iohannis a decorat opt congresmani americani cu Ordinul Steaua României în grad de Comandor". adevarul.ro (in Romanian). June 9, 2017. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
  32. Peia, Florentina; Iacob, Simona (June 9, 2017). Purcarea, Vicentiu; Pandea, Razvan-Adrian (eds.). "President Iohannis and U.S. congressmen discuss Romania's inclusion in Visa Waiver programme". Agepres. Retrieved April 29, 2018.

References
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Tom Bevill		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Alabama's 4th congressional district
1997–present		 Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by
Earl Blumenauer		 United States Representatives by seniority
42nd		 Succeeded by
Kevin Brady
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