Mo Brooks

Mo Brooks
Born	Morris Jackson Brooks Jr. 29 4, 1954
Birthplace	Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Attorney, politician
Known for	U.S. Representative for Alabama's 5th congressional district (2011–2023), founding member of the Freedom Caucus
Education	Duke University (BA) University of Alabama (JD)
Children	4

Morris Jackson Brooks Jr. (born April 29, 1954), known as Mo Brooks, is an American attorney and politician who served as the U.S. representative for Alabama's 5th congressional district from 2011 to 2023. A member of the Republican Party, Brooks represented a district based in Huntsville that stretched across the northern portion of the state. Before entering Congress, Brooks served in the Alabama House of Representatives from 1982 to 1992 and on the Madison County Commission from 1996 to 2011, establishing a long record in Alabama politics. He was a founding member of the Freedom Caucus, a conservative caucus within the Republican conference in the House. Brooks ran unsuccessfully for the United States Senate in 2022, seeking the seat vacated by retiring Senator Richard Shelby. Once a close ally of former President Donald Trump, Brooks lost Trump's endorsement during the Senate campaign and subsequently became an outspoken critic of the former president. In January 2026, Brooks announced he was coming out of political retirement to run for a seat in the Alabama House of Representatives, challenging incumbent State Representative James Lomax in House District 20.

Early Life

Morris Jackson Brooks Jr. was born on April 29, 1954, in Charleston, South Carolina. Details about his parents and upbringing in publicly available sources are limited, though Brooks eventually settled in Alabama, where he would build his political and legal career over more than four decades.

Brooks relocated to Alabama to pursue his education and subsequently remained in the state, establishing roots in the Huntsville area. He pursued a career in law and became involved in Republican politics in northern Alabama at a relatively young age, first winning election to the Alabama House of Representatives in 1982 at the age of 28.

Education

Brooks earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. He then attended the University of Alabama School of Law, where he obtained his Juris Doctor degree. His legal training prepared him for a career that would blend the practice of law with public service, and he was admitted to the Alabama bar, enabling him to work as an attorney in the state.

Career

Alabama House of Representatives (1982–1992)

Brooks began his career in elected office in 1982, when he won a seat in the Alabama House of Representatives representing the 18th district. He served in this capacity from 1982 to 1984, at which point redistricting shifted him to the 10th district, which he represented from 1984 to 1992. During his decade in the state legislature, Brooks established himself as a conservative voice in Alabama politics. His predecessors in the seats he held were Frank Riddick (18th district) and Tom Drake (10th district), and he was succeeded by Charlie Britnell and James Haney, respectively.

Madison County Commission (1996–2011)

After leaving the state legislature in 1992, Brooks returned to elected office in 1996 when he won a seat on the Madison County Commission, representing the 5th district. He served on the commission for fifteen years, from 1996 to 2011, a tenure that overlapped with significant growth and development in the Huntsville metropolitan area. His predecessor on the commission was Rob Colson, and he was succeeded by Phil Riddick. Brooks's long service on the county commission gave him a strong base of support in the Huntsville area, which would prove instrumental in his successful bid for Congress.

U.S. House of Representatives (2011–2023)

2010 Election

In 2010, Brooks ran for Alabama's 5th congressional district, which encompassed the northern portion of the state and was anchored by Huntsville. The seat was held by Parker Griffith, who had switched from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party in December 2009. Despite Griffith's party switch, Brooks challenged him in the Republican primary. Brooks defeated Griffith in the June 2010 primary, with Griffith conceding the race. Brooks went on to win the general election comfortably in the heavily Republican district.

Tenure in Congress

Brooks took office on January 3, 2011, succeeding Parker Griffith. He represented Alabama's 5th congressional district for six terms, serving until January 3, 2023. During his time in Congress, Brooks was known as a staunch conservative and was a founding member of the Freedom Caucus, a group of the most conservative members of the House Republican conference that frequently pushed leadership to adopt more right-leaning positions on fiscal, immigration, and social policy matters.

Economic Policy

Brooks identified the economy as one of the most significant issues facing his constituents and the nation. In a 2011 interview, he stated that the economy was the "biggest issue" confronting the country. Brooks signed the Americans for Tax Reform taxpayer protection pledge, committing to oppose increases in marginal income tax rates and net tax increases.

Immigration

Immigration was one of Brooks's signature issues throughout his congressional career. He adopted a hardline stance against illegal immigration and was a vocal advocate for stricter enforcement of existing immigration laws and reduced levels of legal immigration. Brooks introduced and supported legislation aimed at strengthening border security and interior enforcement.

Social Security and Healthcare

On entitlement programs, Brooks addressed issues related to Social Security reform during his tenure. In 2011, he made public statements regarding Social Security that he subsequently retracted. On healthcare, Brooks was a consistent opponent of the Affordable Care Act and voted to repeal or defund the law on multiple occasions.

Foreign Policy

Brooks took positions on various foreign policy matters during his time in Congress. In 2011, he issued a statement criticizing the U.S. military intervention in Libya, expressing concerns about the scope of American involvement and the constitutional authority under which the operation was conducted.

Technology Policy

Representing a district that included Huntsville — home to NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center and a major hub for defense and aerospace industries — Brooks took an active interest in technology and science policy. His positions on technology-related matters reflected the importance of these sectors to his constituents.

Legislative Activity

During the 112th Congress, Brooks introduced legislation including H.R. 1076. He participated in party-line votes on various measures during his tenure.

January 6, 2021

Brooks was among the most prominent congressional figures in efforts to challenge the results of the 2020 presidential election. He spoke at the rally held near the White House on January 6, 2021, prior to the storming of the U.S. Capitol. Brooks's involvement in the events surrounding January 6 became a significant element of his political legacy and would later factor into his complex relationship with former President Donald Trump.

2022 U.S. Senate Campaign

In 2022, Brooks opted not to seek re-election to the House and instead launched a campaign for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by the retiring Richard Shelby. Initially, Brooks received the endorsement of former President Donald Trump, who had been a close political ally. The endorsement was considered a significant advantage in the Republican primary in Alabama, a state where Trump maintained strong support among Republican voters.

However, Brooks's campaign struggled to gain traction, and his polling numbers declined. In a notable development, Brooks began making statements suggesting that Republicans should move past the disputed claims of fraud in the 2020 presidential election and focus on future elections. Trump responded by rescinding his endorsement of Brooks in March 2022, publicly stating that Brooks had "gone woke." The loss of Trump's endorsement was widely seen as damaging to Brooks's campaign.

In the May 2022 Republican primary, Brooks finished in second place behind Katie Britt, a former chief of staff to Senator Shelby. Brooks and Britt advanced to a runoff election, in which Britt defeated Brooks decisively. The loss marked a significant setback in Brooks's political career and ended his time in federal office. He was succeeded in the House by Dale Strong, who won the 2022 general election for Alabama's 5th congressional district.

Post-Congressional Career and Trump Criticism

Following his Senate primary defeat, Brooks became an outspoken critic of Donald Trump, representing a notable reversal from his earlier position as one of Trump's most vocal congressional allies. Brooks publicly criticized various aspects of Trump's conduct and leadership, marking a significant shift in his political alignment within the Republican Party.

In October 2025, Brooks garnered attention for an op-ed criticizing House Speaker Mike Johnson over delays in swearing in newly elected Representative Adelita Grijalva. The op-ed drew praise from Grijalva, an unusual instance of cross-party agreement.

2026 Alabama House Campaign

In December 2025, reports emerged that Brooks was considering a return to electoral politics. He indicated he was weighing a primary challenge against State Representative James Lomax, a Republican representing House District 20 in the Huntsville area.

On January 23, 2026, Brooks officially announced his candidacy for the Alabama House of Representatives seat in District 20. According to Brooks, he had set a condition for entering the race: supporters needed to raise $100,000 from Alabama citizens to demonstrate sufficient grassroots backing for his campaign. The fundraising threshold was met, prompting his formal entry into the race.

The announcement marked a return to state legislative politics for Brooks more than three decades after he had last served in the Alabama House of Representatives, having left that body in 1992. The candidacy represented an unusual step for a former six-term congressman — moving from federal office back to the state legislature.

Brooks's entry into the race drew immediate and sharp criticism. Alabama House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter publicly backed Lomax for re-election and criticized Brooks, stating that Brooks had "failed at every office he's held." Brooks disputed the characterization, countering that voters had a different assessment of his record. Lomax himself responded to Brooks's public criticisms, accusing the former congressman of making "endless promises, zero delivery." The Alabama Political Reporter noted that Brooks's announcement drew a "harsh rebuke" from his opponent.

Personal Life

Brooks has four children. He has resided in the Huntsville, Alabama area for much of his adult life, consistent with his long career representing the region at the local, state, and federal levels. Brooks is a licensed attorney in Alabama, having earned his law degree from the University of Alabama.

Legacy

Mo Brooks's political career spans more than four decades, encompassing service at the state, county, and federal levels of government. His tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives was marked by his role as a founding member of the Freedom Caucus, which became one of the most influential blocs within the Republican conference and played a significant role in shaping the direction of the party during the 2010s and early 2020s.

Brooks's trajectory with regard to Donald Trump — from one of the former president's most vocal congressional supporters to an outspoken critic — mirrored broader tensions within the Republican Party between Trump loyalists and those who sought to chart a different course. His participation in the January 6, 2021, rally and subsequent efforts to challenge the 2020 election results, followed by his later statements urging the party to move forward, encapsulated the complex and evolving relationship between Trump and members of his party.

His decision to seek a seat in the Alabama House of Representatives in 2026, more than three decades after he last served in that body, drew attention as an uncommon example of a former federal officeholder returning to state-level politics. Whether this bid represents a new chapter in Brooks's long political career or its final act remains to be determined by the voters of Alabama's House District 20.