He was again a member of the State Assembly in 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905 and 1906; and was Minority Leader from 1902 to 1906. On July 14, 1906, he married Mary Corry.[4] On October 2, 1906, he ran for re-nomination but, because of his opposition to William Randolph Hearst, Palmer was defeated at the Democratic county convention by Charles H. Holmes.[5]
On February 16, 1912, Palmer was elected as Chairman of the New York State Democratic Committee.[6] On January 30, 1914, Palmer denied that he would step down as State Chairman.[7] On February 19, he announced his resignation, to take effect on March 2 when William Church Osborn should be elected as his successor. At the same time he stated that he expected to be appointed as Counsel to the New York State Workmen's Compensation Commission.[8] The deal fell through when on August 13, 1914, Jeremiah F. Connor was appointed as Counsel.[9]