BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Republican Rep. Mo Brooks of Huntsville has won a fifth term in Congress representing the 5th District Tennessee Valley region of north Alabama.
Brooks defeated Democratic challenger Peter Joffrion by casting himself as a firm conservative who supports President Donald Trump. Brooks touted the strong economy and shoring up the border, and he portrayed Democrats as a socialist threat to the nation.
“Well it’s a humbling experience when the people of a state or country decide that you are the one who’s best suited to represent them in an elected position, in this case people of the Tennessee Valley sending me back to D.C,” Brooks told WHNT Huntsville.
“I want them to know that I appreciate the nod of confidence they have given by what appears to be a fairly large margin, and I’m going to continue to keep doing what they want me to do.”
Joffrion is a former city attorney in Huntsville. He hoped to gain support partly through the Democratic Party’s larger-than-usual slate of candidates in Alabama, and he talked up issues including health care and a living wage for workers.
Joffrion raised more money than Brooks’ three previous challengers, but the Republican still outdistanced the challenger in both fundraising and campaign spending.
The 5th District includes Alabama’s northernmost counties.