After deciding not to run for office, former U.S. Rep. Mo. Brooks has reversed course and announced plans to run for Alabama House District 20 against Republican incumbent James Lomax.
Brooks said multiple elected officials had been urging him to come out of retirement, but he decided he’d rather spend time with his family, given that his personal conditions to run had not been met.
All of that changed this week with a last-minute influx of funding.
“As of December 31, my opponent had roughly $100,000 in the bank,” Brooks told 1819 News. “So I required, as a precondition to my candidacy, that the folks urging me to get back on the political battlefield raise $100,000, none from Special Interest PACS, all from Alabama citizens, to ensure I had the minimally competitive resources needed to get our message out and win an election campaign. I committed to them that, if they did that, I would run.”
He set a high bar to justify missing out on family time, and he had low expectations that the fundraising goal could be met in so short a time.
“But, yesterday, to my utter surprise, they informed me they did it. They raised $100,000, all from Alabama citizens who want me to return to public service, none of it coming from Special Interest PACs! Amazing!” Brooks said.
“So I am keeping my word and will qualify today to run in Alabama House District 20," he added. "I look forward to returning to the political battlefield and, once again, being a warrior for my family’s future and the state and people I love."
Brooks already feels confident in his chances of unseating Lomax, describing HD20 as “a House district voters preferred me over Katie Britt in, in which I have averaged roughly 70% of the vote in 18 separate elections.”
Friday is the final day to qualify for the 2026 election.
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