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'''Richard Craig Shelby''' (born May 6, 1934) is the senior [[United States]] [[Senator]] from [[Alabama]]. Originally elected to the Senate as a [[Democrat]], Shelby switched to the [[Republican Party]] in 1994 when it gained the majority in Congress.

'''Richard Craig Shelby''' (born May 6, 1934) is the senior [[United States]] [[Senator]] from [[Alabama]]. Originally elected to the Senate as a [[Democrat]], Shelby switched to the [[Republican Party]] in 1994 when it gained the majority in [[Congress]].

==Early Life==

==Early Life==

==Political career==

==Political career==

Shelby began his legislative career as a member of the Alabama Senate in 1970, serving until 1978, when he was elected to the [[House of Representatives]] from the Tuscaloosa-based 7th District. He was reelected three times. In 1986, Shelby was elected to the United States Senate by a narrow margin. He was easily re-elected in 1992 even as Democrat Presidential nominee [[Bill Clinton]] lost Alabama's electoral votes. Like most southern Democrats, Shelby was very [[conservative]] on issues such as [[gun control]], [[abortion]] and [[gay]] rights. He was a strong critic of President Clinton's tax increases. On November 9, 1994, Shelby switched his party affiliation to Republican one day after the Republicans won control of both houses in the midterm elections, giving the Republicans a 53-47 majority in the Senate. He won his first full term as a Republican in 1998 by a large margin, and faced no significant opposition in 2004. Shelby is currently co-chair of the Congressional Privacy Caucus and Zero Capital Gains Tax Caucus. He is also the Senate co-chair of the National Security Caucus. In addition, he is a member of the [[National Republican Senatorial Committee]] and the Senate Centrist Coalition.

Shelby began his legislative career as a member of the Alabama Senate in 1970, serving until 1978, when he was elected to the [[House of Representatives]] from the Tuscaloosa-based 7th District. He was reelected three times. In 1986, Shelby was elected to the United States Senate by a narrow margin. He was easily re-elected in 1992 even as Democrat Presidential nominee [[Bill Clinton]] lost Alabama's electoral votes. A [[conservative Democrat]], Shelby voted to confirm [[Clarence Thomas]] to the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] and voted for the 1991 [[Persian Gulf War]] after [[Iraq]] invaded [[Kuwait]]. Like most southern Democrats, Shelby was [[conservative]] on issues such as [[gun control]], [[abortion]] and [[gay]] rights. He was a strong critic of President Clinton's tax increases. On November 9, 1994, Shelby switched his party affiliation to Republican one day after the Republicans won control of both houses in the midterm elections, giving the Republicans a 53-47 majority in the Senate. He won his first full term as a Republican in 1998 by a large margin, and faced no significant opposition in 2004. Additionally, he is heavily favored to win reelection in 2010.

 

Shelby is currently co-chair of the Congressional Privacy Caucus and Zero Capital Gains Tax Caucus. He is also the Senate co-chair of the National Security Caucus. In addition, he is a member of the [[National Republican Senatorial Committee]] and the Senate Centrist Coalition.

==External links==

==External links==