Richard Shelby facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Richard Shelby
Official portrait, 2011
United States Senator from Alabama
In office January 3, 1987 – January 3, 2023
Preceded by	Jeremiah Denton
Succeeded by	Katie Britt
Committee chairmanships Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee In office April 10, 2018 – February 3, 2021 Preceded by Thad Cochran Succeeded by Patrick Leahy Chair of the Senate Rules Committee In office January 3, 2017 – April 10, 2018 Preceded by Roy Blunt Succeeded by Roy Blunt Chair of the Senate Banking Committee In office January 3, 2015 – January 3, 2017 Preceded by Tim Johnson Succeeded by Mike Crapo In office January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2007 Preceded by Paul Sarbanes Succeeded by Chris Dodd Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee In office January 20, 2001 – June 6, 2001 Preceded by Bob Graham Succeeded by Bob Graham In office January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2001 Preceded by Arlen Specter Succeeded by Bob Graham
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Alabama's 7th district
In office January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1987
Preceded by	Walter Flowers
Succeeded by	Claude Harris Jr.
Member of the Alabama Senate
In office November 4, 1970 – November 8, 1978
Preceded by	James A. Branyon II
Succeeded by	Ryan deGraffenried
Constituency	11th district (1970–1974) 16th district (1974–1978)
Personal details
Born	Richard Craig Shelby (1934-05-06) May 6, 1934 (age 91) Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
Political party	Republican (after 1994)
Other political affiliations	Democratic (until 1994)
Spouse	Annette Nevin ​ ​ (m. 1960; died 2025)​
Children	2
Education	University of Alabama (BA, LLB)
Signature

Richard Craig Shelby (born May 6, 1934) is an American lawyer and politician. He served as a U.S. Senator for Alabama from 1987 to 2023. He was first elected as a Democrat in 1986. Later, in 1994, he changed to the Republican Party. Shelby is the longest-serving U.S. Senator from Alabama, serving for 36 years.

Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Shelby graduated from the University of Alabama in 1957. He became a lawyer in Alabama in 1961. He also earned a law degree from the University of Alabama School of Law in 1963. Shelby worked as a city prosecutor and a U.S. magistrate. He also served as a special assistant to the Attorney General of Alabama.

Shelby was a member of the Alabama Senate from 1970 to 1978. Then, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for Alabama's 7th district. He served in the House until 1987. During his time in the House, he was part of a group of conservative Democrats called the "boll weevils." These were Democrats who often agreed with Republican President Ronald Reagan on certain issues.

In 1986, Shelby won a close election to become a U.S. Senator. In 1994, after Republicans gained control of Congress, Shelby switched to the Republican Party. He was reelected by a large number of votes in 1998 and faced little opposition in later elections. Shelby led important committees, including the Senate Appropriations Committee. He also chaired the Senate Intelligence Committee, the Senate Banking Committee, and the Senate Rules Committee.

In February 2021, Shelby announced he would not run for reelection in 2022. Katie Britt, who used to be his chief of staff, was elected to take his place.

Early Life and Education

Richard Shelby was born in Birmingham, Alabama, on May 6, 1934. His parents were Alice L. and Ozie Houston Shelby. He finished high school in Hueytown, Alabama, in 1953.

He then went to the University of Alabama. He earned his first degree in 1957. He became a lawyer in Alabama on August 29, 1961. He received another law degree from the University of Alabama School of Law in 1963.

Early Career in Politics

Shelby was a city prosecutor in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, from 1963 to 1971. He also worked as a U.S. Magistrate for the Northern District of Alabama from 1966 to 1970. From 1969 to 1971, he was a special assistant to the state attorney general.

Shelby during his time in the U.S. House of Representatives, 1981.

In 1970, Shelby was elected to the Alabama Senate. He served there until 1978. That year, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. He represented Alabama's 7th district. He was reelected three times to the House. Shelby was known as a conservative Democrat. He often worked with President Ronald Reagan on defense issues.

Serving in the U.S. Senate

Senate Elections

1986 Election

In the 1986 U.S. Senate election, Shelby won the Democratic nomination. He ran for the Senate seat held by Republican Jeremiah Denton. Shelby won a very close election. This victory helped Democrats regain control of the Senate.

1992 Election

Shelby was easily reelected in 1992. This happened even though Bill Clinton did not win Alabama's votes in the presidential election that year.

1998 Election and Party Change

On November 9, 1994, Shelby changed his political party to Republican. This was one day after the "Republican Revolution," when Republicans won control of both parts of Congress. Shelby's switch gave Republicans a majority in the Senate. He won his first election as a Republican in 1998 by a large number of votes.

Later Elections (2004, 2010, 2016)

Shelby faced no major opponents in the 2004 election. He was reelected to his fifth term in 2010, again without significant opposition. In 2016, Shelby was reelected for his sixth term.

Time in Office

1980s and 1990s

Shelby during his time in the U.S. House of Representatives, 1981.

Shelby greeting President Ronald Reagan in 1988

In 1987, Shelby did not support President Reagan's choice of Robert Bork for the Supreme Court. This decision was influenced by African-American leaders in Alabama who had supported Shelby in his close 1986 election. In 1991, Shelby supported President George H. W. Bush's choice of Clarence Thomas for the Supreme Court.

In 1991, Shelby worked on a law to officially recognize the MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians. He believed it would pass. Shelby also had disagreements with President Bill Clinton in the early 1990s. He criticized Clinton's plans, saying they had "high on taxes, low on [spending] cuts."

Shelby was on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence from 1995 to 2003. He was tough on the intelligence community during both the Clinton and Bush presidencies. He worked to investigate the use of American-made satellites by China. Shelby also took a strong stance against leaks of secret information.

In 1991, Shelby supported a crime bill that created a waiting period for handgun purchases. It also banned certain semi-automatic firearms. In 1992, after his aide was murdered, Shelby supported bringing back the death penalty in Washington, D.C. In 1999, Shelby was one of only a few senators to vote against the Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act. This law changed parts of the Glass–Steagall Legislation.

On February 12, 1999, Shelby voted to remove President Bill Clinton from office during his impeachment trial.

2000s

Shelby was very critical of CIA Director George Tenet after the September 11 attacks. From 2003 to 2007, he led the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs. He also served on the Appropriations Committee. He lost his leadership roles in 2007 when Democrats gained control of the Senate.

In 2004, an investigation found that Shelby had shared secret information with the media. This information was about messages between Al-Qaeda members. The Department of Justice did not file criminal charges. The case was sent to the Senate Ethics Committee, which finished its review in 2005.

Shelby was known for his success in getting federal money for Alabama. He often used "earmarks," which are special funds set aside for specific projects in a state.

2010s

Shelby and Brett Kavanaugh in July 2018

In February 2010, Shelby temporarily stopped the approval of over 70 of President Obama's choices for government jobs. He did this to get attention for issues important to Alabama, like an Air Force contract. He lifted most of these holds a few days later.

In March 2017, Shelby supported Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch. He said Republicans should change Senate rules if Democrats tried to block Gorsuch's appointment. In December 2017, Shelby asked a federal judge nominee, Brett Talley, to withdraw his name. This was so Talley could gain more experience.

In November 2018, Shelby met with President Trump. Shelby advised Trump to avoid a government shutdown over funding for a border wall. In February 2019, Shelby confirmed that Trump still wanted a U.S.-Mexico border wall.

Shelby became the longest-serving U.S. Senator from Alabama in March 2019. He passed Senator John Sparkman's record.

2020s

Shelby in 2022

In September 2020, Shelby supported a quick Senate vote on President Trump's choice for the Supreme Court. This was to fill the spot left by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death. However, in March 2016, Shelby had refused to consider Obama's Supreme Court nominee. He said that decision should wait until after the presidential election.

During the January 6 United States Capitol attack, Shelby called for "law and order." When Congress met again to confirm the election results, Shelby voted to accept them. On February 13, 2021, Shelby voted to clear Trump of charges related to the Capitol attack.

In February 2021, Shelby announced he would not run for reelection in 2022. Katie Britt, his former chief of staff, was elected to replace him in November 2022.

Committee Roles

Senator Shelby leading the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs

Shelby held many important roles on Senate committees:

• Senate Committee on Appropriations (ranking member)
  • Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science
  • Subcommittee on Defense (vice chair)
  • Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development
  • Subcommittee on Homeland Security
  • Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education & Related Agencies
  • Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
• Senate Committee on Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs (former chair)
• Senate Committee on Rules and Administration (former chair)
• Joint Committee of Congress on the Library (vice chair)

Other Groups

• Senate Republican Conference

Political Views

Budget and Economy

Shelby was against using government money to help banks and other companies. He opposed "bailouts" for groups like AIG in 2008 and 2009.

In 2010, he voted against changes to regulate banks. This included a proposal to limit ATM fees.

Shelby opposed the nomination of Peter Diamond to the Federal Reserve board. He felt Diamond did not have the right experience. As head of the Senate Banking Committee, Shelby focused on making financial rules simpler. In 2015, he introduced a bill to ease rules for smaller banks.

Civil Rights

Shelby voted to make English the only official language of the federal government. He also voted for the Federal Marriage Amendment.

Foreign Policy

Iran

In 2002, Shelby said that Iran becoming a nuclear power would be "disturbing." This was because Iran had supported terrorism in the past.

In 2015, Shelby was one of many Republican senators to sign a letter to Iran. The letter warned that any nuclear deal with the U.S. would need Congress's approval. He called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action "a bad deal."

Russia

In 2010, Shelby voted against the New Start treaty. This treaty aimed to reduce nuclear weapons between the U.S. and Russian Federation. In 2021, he voted for a measure to place sanctions on those operating the Nord Stream pipeline.

Saudi Arabia

In 2018, Shelby voted to stop a resolution that would have required President Trump to remove American troops from Yemen.

Second Amendment

In 2016, Shelby voted against a proposal to stop selling firearms to people suspected of being terrorists. He said he believed guns should be kept out of the hands of terrorists.

In 2019, Shelby supported a bill that would allow people with concealed carry permits in their home state to carry a concealed weapon in other states that also have such laws.

Health Care

Shelby was against President Obama's health care reform laws. He voted against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in 2009 and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 in 2010.

In 2009, Shelby said the U.S. had "the best health care system in the world." He believed the system should be expanded without being destroyed. In 2017, Shelby said that health care reform was still an important issue.

Immigration

Shelby voted for a temporary stop on certain types of immigration in 1994.

Space

Shelby supported the development of the Space Launch System (SLS). This is a powerful rocket system. He helped secure funding for space projects in Alabama.

Taxes

Shelby supports a flat tax. He also supported the tax cuts made during the George W. Bush administration. He often said that his disagreements with Democrats on tax policy were a main reason he became a Republican. He felt Democrats were too willing to raise taxes.

Donald Trump

During the first impeachment trial of Donald Trump, Shelby voted to clear Trump of charges. He also voted against bringing in new witnesses.

During the second impeachment trial of Donald Trump, Shelby again voted to clear Trump. He believed that impeachment rules did not apply to former officials. In May 2021, Shelby did not vote on creating a special group to investigate the 2021 United States Capitol attack.

Veterans

In 2022, Shelby was one of 11 Senators who voted against the Honoring our PACT Act of 2022. This bill would have provided money for research and benefits for veterans exposed to harmful substances during their service.

Buildings Named After Richard Shelby

Several buildings are named after Richard Shelby and his wife, Annette, to honor their contributions:

• The Shelby Hall Research Center at the University of Alabama opened in 2007. It is a large center for math, chemistry, and biology research.
• The Richard C. and Annette N. Shelby Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Building at the University of Alabama at Birmingham opened in 2006. It is a 12-story building for biomedical research.
• The Senator Richard C. and Dr. Annette N. Shelby Center for Engineering Technology at Auburn University was dedicated in 2008. Shelby helped get $30 million for this project.
• In Mobile, Shelby Hall houses the University of South Alabama College of Engineering. It was named after Richard and Annette Shelby for their support of higher education.
• The Shelby Center for Science and Technology at the University of Alabama in Huntsville opened in 2007. It has many labs, classrooms, and offices.
• The Richard C. Shelby Atrium and Auditorium at Dauphin Island Sea Lab is a modern video conferencing center.
• The Richard C. Shelby Center for Missile Intelligence is the main building for the Missile and Space Intelligence Center (MSIC) in Huntsville, Alabama.
• Shelby Field is an airport in Abbeville.

Personal Life

Richard Shelby was married to Annette Nevin Shelby for 65 years. She passed away on July 23, 2025. They had two sons, Richard Jr. and Claude.

See Also

• List of American politicians who switched parties in office
• List of United States senators who switched parties