James Comer (politician)
James Richardson Comer Jr. (/ˈkoʊmər/ KOH-mər; born August 19, 1972) is an American politician from the Commonwealth of Kentucky who represents the state's 1st congressional district in the United States House of Representatives. A member of the Republican Party, he has served in the Congress of the United States of America since 2016, during the 114th United States Congress. He previously served in the Kentucky House of Representatives and also served as the Agriculture Commissioner of Kentucky.
James Comer | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2020 | |
| Chair of the House Oversight Committee | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Carolyn Maloney |
| Ranking Member of the House Oversight Committee | |
| In office June 29, 2020 – January 3, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Jim Jordan |
| Succeeded by | Jamie Raskin |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Kentucky's 1st district | |
| Assumed office November 8, 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Ed Whitfield |
| Agriculture Commissioner of Kentucky | |
| In office January 2, 2012 – January 4, 2016 | |
| Governor | Steve Beshear Matt Bevin |
| Preceded by | Richie Farmer |
| Succeeded by | Ryan Quarles |
| Member of the Kentucky House of Representatives from the 53rd district | |
| In office January 1, 2001 – January 2, 2012 | |
| Preceded by | Billy Polston |
| Succeeded by | Bart Rowland |
| Personal details | |
| Born | James Richardson Comer Jr. August 19, 1972 Carthage, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Tamara Jo Comer (m. 2003) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Western Kentucky University (BS) |
| Website | House website |
As the chair of the Oversight Committee from 2023, Comer has declined or stopped investigations into former President Donald Trump. Comer is currently leading an investigation into the Biden family. Despite his claims of having uncovered "a mountain of evidence", he and his Republican colleagues have failed to produce any concrete proof to support their allegations.
Comer served as Kentucky's agriculture commissioner from 2012 to 2016 and in the Kentucky House of Representatives from 2000 to 2012. He unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for governor of Kentucky in the 2015 election. A year later, he won the Republican nomination for Kentucky's 1st congressional district to succeed Ed Whitfield. On November 8, 2016, Comer won both a full term to the seat for the next Congress and a special election that allowed him to serve the remainder of Whitfield's term.