(Washington Insider Magazine) -Richard Shelby is an American politician. He was originally elected as a Democrat, but he later switched to the Republican Party in 1994. Shelby has chosen to move to the Republican party because the Republicans gained the majority in Congress during President Bill Clinton’s first term.
Richard Shelby Biography
Richard Shelby was born on May 6, 1934, in the United States. Shelby was born in Birmingham, Alabama. He is the son of Alice L. (née Skinner) and Ozie Houston Shelby. The American politician graduated in 1953 from Hueytown High School in Hueytown, Alabama.
He was admitted to the University of Alabama, where he earned his undergraduate degree. Shelby later attended the Birmingham School of Law, where he got the Juris Doctor degree in 1961. He was admitted to the Alabama State Bar on August 29, 1961, and received an LL.B. from the University of Alabama School of Law in 1963.
Early Career
Shelby started his political career at a young age. He has been a member of the American Bar Association, the Alabama State Bar, the American Judicature Society, the Alabama Law Institute, the Delta Chi fraternity, and the Phi Alpha Delta legal fraternity so far.
Shelby kicked off his career by becoming the city prosecutor in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He served as a prosecutor from 1963 to 1971. From 1966 to 1970, Shelby served as a U.S. Magistrate for the Northern District of Alabama. The American politician continued to serve from 1969 to 1971 as a special assistant state attorney general.
Shelby was active during his tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1981. He was elected to the Alabama Senate in 1970 and continued to serve till 1978. The same year he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Richard worked at the Tuscaloosa-based 7th district after Walter Flowers’s retirement was passed.
He was reelected three times because of his powerful decision-making abilities. Shelby was one of the more conservative Democrats who worked in Congress. He was also a member of the boll weevils, which was a group of moderate to conservative-leaning Democrats. The group often worked with President Ronald Reagan and played an important role in changing the prospects of defense issues in the United States.
Political Career
Shelby served as the city prosecutor from 1963 to 1971. During this period, he worked as a U.S. magistrate for the Northern District of Alabama. He served his term from 1966–1970. Richard worked as the Special Assistant Attorney General of Alabama from 1969–1971. He won a seat in the Alabama Senate and was elected from the 7th district in the United States House of Representatives.
Richard gained a lot of popularity during that time because he worked effortlessly for the betterment of the party. Other party leaders always showed strong support for him and he led almost all the meetings held during the campaigns. He was a part of the group of conservative Democrats that were known as the boll weevils. The group helped their party achieve a lot of goals that they were aiming at.
In 1986, Shelby won a tight race as a Democrat for the U.S. Senate. He was one of the very few politicians who won the seat as the competition was tough from the other parties. In 1994, Republican Revolution was held where the GOP gained the majority in Congress. Richard was active as a politician during this term.
When the event was midway and the President Bill Clinton’s first term was at its peak Shelby switched parties and became a Republican. He was reelected as he won by a large margin in 1998. Richard faced no significant electoral opposition thereafter because he had a great reputation as a politician. He is currently working as the dean of Alabama’s congressional delegation.
Richard Shelby’s Net Worth
Richard is one of the richest Politicians. He has an estimated net worth of $20 million. He has earned a massive net worth through his political career. Shelby is rated as the richest American politician in Forbes magazine.
Richard’s net worth continues to grow as the famous politician is still active in his career. His annual salary passes most of the active politicians working for the Republic Party. The high paychecks that he receives are all due to the hard work that he has put in to build trust and his reputation.
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Personal Life
Shelby is married to Annette Nevin Shelby. The couple has been together for over 60 years. They have two sons, Richard Jr. and Claude.