Trump-backed Katie Britt defeats Rep. Mo Brooks in Alabama GOP Senate primary runoff

June  22, 2022

Katie Britt, a former top aide to Senator Richard Shelby (R-Alabama), has defeated Representative Mo Brooks in Alabama’s Republican Senate primary runoff, NBC News reports.

According to NBC, the race to succeed Shelby, who is retiring, had flummoxed former President Donald Trump, whose early endorsement of Brooks was consistent with what had been a close political alliance.

But Trump soured on Brooks, who had expressed a desire to move on from the 2020 election that Trump continues to falsely claim he won. Brooks, once an early favorite in the race, saw his poll numbers decline and Trump withdraw his endorsement.

Brooks ultimately rallied to earn a spot in the runoff against Britt, but she had long since become the GOP front-runner. Trump eventually endorsed her less than two weeks ago.

“Every single person who helped this campaign is a patriot who loves America, and I thank you for it,” Brooks posted on Twitter after the race was called Tuesday night. “This isn’t the outcome we wanted, but I am proud to have fought for our country. America, and you all, are worth it.”

Britt will face Democratic nominee Will Boyd in November. Addressing her supporters late Tuesday, she credited Trump’s endorsement with “helping us wrap this thing up in style.”

“People across Alabama miss his America First agenda,” Britt added, “and we are going to go to the United States Senate to fight for it each and every day.”

Georgia, meanwhile, dealt another round of blows to Trump, whose endorsed House candidates in two districts were defeated in GOP primary runoffs Tuesday, NBC News projects. In the 6th Congressional District, Rich McCormick, a Marine veteran and emergency room doctor, beat Trump-backed Jake Evans. And in the 10th District, trucking company owner Mike Collins bested Trump favorite Vernon Jones.

Research contact: @NBCNews