By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

In the race to replace U.S. Rep. Spencer Bachus to fill the seat of Alabama’s 6th congressional district in the United States Congress, Republican Gary Palmer defeated Democrat Mark Lester in the Nov. 4 general election.

The most recent update on Nov. 4 had Palmer receiving more than 40,448 votes, or 80.22 percent, to defeat Lester.

Palmer was relieved to have gained the victory and congratulated everyone who helped support his campaign.

“The biggest thing is that I have an overwhelming sense of gratitude to all these people that believed in me and got behind me, and especially early on,” said Palmer.

Palmer said that health care reform and repealing Obamacare is one of his main things goals when he gets into office.

“The thing I heard time and time again on the campaign trail was to repeal and replace Obamacare,” said Palmer. “People are very concerned about their health care and what is going to happen going forward, and I think we know what to do and I think we need to get out that message and make those reforms.”

Palmer said he’s going to stay true to himself, and said the person voters saw on the campaign trail is the same person who will be taking office.

“I’m someone who’s focused on solutions who’s not going to blame others for what we don’t do or for what’s going wrong,” said Palmer.

Palmer discussed how far he’s come since January and when most people saw his name then they associated him with a golfer.

“In January my name id was only four percent and half of those who thought they knew my name thought I was a golfer,” said Palmer.