Robert Aderholt

Robert Aderholt
Born	Robert Brown Aderholt 22 7, 1965
Birthplace	Haleyville, Alabama, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, attorney
Known for	U.S. Representative for Alabama's 4th congressional district (1997–present)
Education	Birmingham-Southern College (BA) Samford University (JD)
Children	2
Website	[aderholt.house.gov Official site]

Robert Brown Aderholt (born July 22, 1965) is an American politician and attorney who has served as the U.S. Representative for Alabama's 4th congressional district since January 3, 1997. A member of the Republican Party and the Tea Party Caucus, Aderholt represents a sprawling district in northern Alabama that includes most of Tuscaloosa County north of the Black Warrior River, the far northern suburbs of Birmingham in Walker County, and the southern suburbs of Huntsville and Decatur. Born and raised in Haleyville, Alabama, Aderholt entered Congress at the age of thirty-one after succeeding long-serving Democratic congressman Tom Bevill. Over nearly three decades in office, he has established himself as a socially conservative legislator with particular focus on appropriations, defense, and rural development issues. His district carries a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of R+33, making it the most Republican congressional district in the United States. Following the retirement of Senator Richard Shelby at the conclusion of the 117th Congress, Aderholt became the dean of Alabama's congressional delegation, the most senior member of the state's representation in Washington.

Early Life

Robert Brown Aderholt was born on July 22, 1965, in Haleyville, a small city in Winston County in northwestern Alabama. He grew up in the rural communities of north Alabama, a region characterized by its strong ties to agriculture, manufacturing, and conservative cultural values. Haleyville, his hometown, is perhaps best known as the site of the first 9-1-1 emergency telephone call in the United States, placed in 1968 when Aderholt was a young child.

Aderholt's upbringing in Winston County placed him in a part of Alabama with a distinctive political heritage. Winston County had famously resisted secession during the American Civil War and maintained a tradition of political independence. The region's conservative and Republican-leaning tendencies would later form the core of the constituency Aderholt came to represent in Congress.

Growing up in Haleyville, Aderholt developed an early interest in law and public service. The community's small-town character and the economic challenges facing rural Alabama would become recurring themes throughout his political career, as he later focused significant legislative attention on infrastructure development, job creation, and federal investment in rural communities across the Fourth Congressional District.

Education

Aderholt attended the University of North Alabama in Florence before transferring to Birmingham-Southern College, a private liberal arts institution in Birmingham, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree. He subsequently pursued legal studies at Samford University's Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham, one of Alabama's oldest law schools, where he earned his Juris Doctor degree. His legal education at Cumberland provided the foundation for his early career in law and municipal government before his election to Congress in 1996.

Career

Early Legal and Municipal Career

After completing his law degree at Samford University's Cumberland School of Law, Aderholt practiced law in Alabama and became involved in local government. He served as a Haleyville municipal judge, gaining experience in the judicial system at the local level. This early career in both law and municipal governance provided Aderholt with a grounding in the day-to-day concerns of small-town Alabama communities, experience he would draw upon during his subsequent campaigns for federal office.

Prior to his election to Congress, Aderholt also worked in government positions that connected him to the broader Republican political infrastructure in Alabama. These roles helped him build the relationships and political network that would support his first congressional campaign.

Election to Congress

In 1996, Aderholt ran for the U.S. House seat in Alabama's 4th congressional district, which had been held by Democratic congressman Tom Bevill since 1967. Bevill, a powerful member of the House Appropriations Committee, had served the district for nearly three decades. His retirement opened the seat for the first time in a generation. Aderholt won the Republican primary and went on to win the general election, taking office on January 3, 1997, at the age of thirty-one.

His victory was part of a broader realignment of Southern politics that saw many traditionally Democratic districts in the rural South shift to Republican representation during the 1990s. Once Aderholt captured the seat, the Fourth District became reliably Republican, and he has not faced a serious general election challenge since.

Congressional Tenure

Aderholt has served continuously in Congress since January 1997, making him one of the longest-serving members of Alabama's congressional delegation. He succeeded Tom Bevill and has been reelected in every subsequent cycle. As of 2026, he holds a commanding lead in fundraising over both Republican and Democratic challengers for his seat.

Throughout his tenure, Aderholt has positioned himself as a conservative Republican with particular emphasis on social issues, fiscal policy, and national defense. He became a member of the Tea Party Caucus when it was established in 2010, aligning himself with the movement's emphasis on limited government, reduced federal spending, and strict constitutional interpretation.

Appropriations and Federal Spending

Aderholt has served on the House Appropriations Committee, one of the most influential committees in Congress, which controls federal discretionary spending. His position on this committee has allowed him to direct federal resources to his district, continuing a tradition established by his predecessor Tom Bevill, who had also served on Appropriations.

In recent years, Aderholt has continued to announce federal grants and investments in his district. In February 2026, his office announced a $264,432 Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) grant for STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education in Blount County, a program expected to benefit approximately 2,200 students in the area.

Fiscal and Tax Policy

Aderholt has supported major Republican tax legislation during his time in Congress. In December 2017, he voted in favor of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, the $1.5 trillion tax reform package that was a centerpiece of the Republican legislative agenda during the 115th Congress. The bill reduced individual and corporate tax rates and was signed into law by President Donald Trump.

Aderholt has signed the Americans for Tax Reform Taxpayer Protection Pledge, committing to oppose any net increase in taxes.

Regulatory Policy

In December 2011, Aderholt supported the REINS Act (Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act), a bill that passed the House and sought to expand congressional oversight over executive branch regulations. The legislation would have required Congress to approve any new major federal regulation with an economic impact of $100 million or more before it could take effect.

Second Amendment and Gun Policy

Aderholt has maintained a consistent record of supporting Second Amendment gun rights throughout his congressional career. He has received backing from the National Rifle Association (NRA), which endorsed him and contributed to his campaigns. His voting record on gun-related legislation has been consistently in favor of gun rights and against gun control measures.

Following the 2016 mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, Aderholt was among those members of Congress whose responses to the tragedy were documented by major media outlets.

Social Issues

Aderholt has been identified as one of the most socially conservative members of the House of Representatives. He received a score of zero from the Human Rights Campaign on their congressional scorecard during the 112th Congress, reflecting his opposition to LGBT rights legislation.

He has consistently supported socially conservative positions on a range of issues including abortion, same-sex marriage, and religious liberty matters, reflecting the strong social conservatism of his constituency in northern Alabama.

Constituent Services

As a long-serving representative of a largely rural district, Aderholt has maintained an active constituent services operation. In February 2026, his office announced plans to host a Passport Fair on March 9 at the University of North Alabama's Guillot University Center in Florence, in partnership with the New Orleans Passport Agency, providing residents of the Fourth District an opportunity to apply for or renew passports without traveling to a regional passport agency.

Aderholt also annually nominates students from the Fourth Congressional District to attend U.S. Service Academies, including West Point, the Naval Academy, the Air Force Academy, and the Merchant Marine Academy. In early 2026, he announced his nominations of several students from the district for the 2026 academic year.

FreedomWorks Rating

Aderholt's voting record has been tracked by various conservative organizations. FreedomWorks, a libertarian-leaning advocacy group, has maintained a legislative scorecard that includes his voting patterns on issues related to limited government and economic freedom.

Dean of Alabama Delegation

Following the retirement of U.S. Senator Richard Shelby at the end of the 117th Congress in January 2023, Aderholt became the dean of Alabama's congressional delegation. As the longest-serving member of the state's representation in both the House and Senate, this informal designation recognizes his seniority and institutional knowledge within the delegation.

Personal Life

Robert Aderholt resides in Alabama and has two children. He has maintained his ties to Haleyville, his hometown, throughout his congressional career. Aderholt is identified with Haleyville in his official congressional biography and in media coverage, which frequently refers to him as "R-Haleyville."

His connection to the University of North Alabama, which he attended before transferring to Birmingham-Southern College, has remained evident; in 2026, he chose UNA's campus in Florence as the venue for his district Passport Fair event.

Recognition

Aderholt's nearly three decades of service in Congress have made him one of the most recognized political figures in northern Alabama. His endorsement by the National Rifle Association and his consistent conservative voting record have earned him support from major conservative organizations.

His position on the House Appropriations Committee has afforded him significant influence over federal spending decisions affecting Alabama and the broader region. Through this role, he has been credited with securing federal funding for infrastructure, education, and economic development projects in the Fourth Congressional District, including Appalachian Regional Commission grants for rural communities.

As dean of Alabama's congressional delegation since 2023, Aderholt holds the most senior position among the state's federal lawmakers, a role that carries informal but meaningful influence in coordinating the delegation's legislative priorities.

His fundraising strength has remained formidable throughout his career. As of early 2026, reporting indicated that he held a commanding financial lead over both Republican primary challengers and potential Democratic opponents, underscoring his entrenched position in one of the most Republican-leaning districts in the nation.