Comer, James

James Comer represents Kentucky's 1st congressional district and has served in the House since 2016. As chair of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee since 2023, he controls the panel's investigative agenda and legislative priorities. The Oversight Committee is responsible for examining federal agencies, programs, and officials—giving its chair substantial power to launch investigations, schedule hearings, and determine which matters receive scrutiny. This position places Comer at the center of Congress's accountability function.

Comer's background includes service in the Kentucky House of Representatives from 2000 to 2012 and as Kentucky's agriculture commissioner from 2012 to 2016, providing him experience in state-level governance and agricultural policy. He ran unsuccessfully for Kentucky governor in 2015 before winning his House seat the following year.

As Oversight Committee chair, Comer has pursued investigations into President Joe Biden and his family's business activities, though as of August 2024 no evidence had emerged showing direct Biden involvement or personal profit. Following Biden's withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race, Comer initiated investigations into Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Governor Tim Walz. Notably, he has declined or halted investigations into former President Donald Trump during his tenure as chair.

Comer's legislative record reflects conservative positions on healthcare, taxes, immigration, and social issues. He supports repealing the Affordable Care Act, voted for the 2017 tax cuts, opposes sanctuary cities, and has voted against LGBTQ rights protections. He also supports hemp legalization and has backed military restraint, voting to repeal the Iraq authorization and to withdraw troops from Syria.