James Richardson Comer Jr., born on August 19, 1972, in Tompkinsville, Kentucky, is an American politician, farmer, and businessperson serving as the U.S. Representative for Kentucky's 1st congressional district since 2016. A member of the Republican Party, he has been the Chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability (also referred to as the House Oversight Committee) since 2023, where he leads investigations into government accountability and has been a prominent figure in Republican-led probes. Prior to his congressional role, he served as Kentucky's Commissioner of Agriculture from 2012 to 2015, focusing on addressing scandals, waste, and fraud at the Department of Agriculture through bipartisan efforts. Earlier, he represented the 69th district in the Kentucky House of Representatives from 1996 to 2000. Raised in rural Monroe County, Kentucky, by parents Dr. James R. Comer Sr., a dentist, and Sandra Witcher Comer, Comer developed an early interest in agriculture. He graduated from Monroe County High School in Tompkinsville in 1990 and earned a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from Western Kentucky University in 1993. Following graduation, he entered the business world by securing a loan to purchase his first farm, expanding into farming and real estate ventures that underscored his rural roots and entrepreneurial background. Comer's political career reflects his commitment to conservative values and agricultural interests, positioning him as a key Republican leader in Congress. He was elected to the U.S. House in 2016 after defeating incumbent Democratic Representative Whitney Balley, and has since been reelected multiple times.