While Alabama Congressman Mo Brooks has been holding “Fire McConnell” town halls on his statewide U.S. Senate campaign, the Republican leader in the Senate apparently wants to make sure Alabama voters don’t hire Brooks.
A super PAC affiliated with Mitch McConnell, the Kentucky senator and north Alabama native expected to be restored as majority leader if Republicans win control of the Senate in November, has contributed $2 million to a super PAC opposing Brooks’ election while also supporting one of his opponents, former Sen. Richard Shelby Chief of Staff Katie Britt.
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Alabama’s Future has spent more than $3.5 million this year opposing Brooks’ candidacy while spending about $525,000 supporting Britt, who left as president and CEO of the Business Council of Alabama to run for Senate.
Recent polling indicates Britt is the frontrunner in the Republican primary but well short of topping the 50% threshold needed to avoid a runoff. The primary is May 24 and the expected runoff is set for June 21.
Polling also suggests that Brooks and Huntsville business executive and former Army POW Mike Durant are in a tight race to finish second and advance to a potential runoff.
The contribution from McConnell’s Senate Leadership Fund came to light late last week with updated campaign finance data made available by the Federal Election Commission. The contribution was made April 1, according to the FEC.
The Brooks campaign launched firemcconnell.com in March and began branding his campaign stops as “Fire McConnell” town halls.
This is not the first time McConnell has fought to keep Brooks out of the Senate. In the 2017 special election, the Senate Leadership Fund also ran ads opposing Brooks’ candidacy. Brooks finished third in the Republican primary in 2017.
Some of the anti-Brooks ads this year have appeared similar to 2017 ads.
Alabama’s Future, the anti-Brooks PAC, has also received substantial contributions from donors who have backed Shelby in the past – including $3 million from Great Southern Wood – the Alabama-based company founded by Jimmy Rane and best known for its YellaWood products.
“Katie Britt is Mitch McConnell’s candidate,” Brooks campaign spokesman Will Hampson said Monday. “He’s supporting her and funding every lying ad against Mo Brooks. Like in 2017, McConnell is trying to buy a RINO a Senate seat in Alabama. He hates Trump and America First candidates like Mo. Britt is bought and paid for by the Swamp. This is why President Trump will never support Katie Britt — she’s Mitch McConnell’s candidate. Anyone who claims to be MAGA cannot support or vote for Britt. Period.”
In her own statement Monday, Britt said that “D.C. super PACs should stay out of Alabama” and that “out-of-state groups should let Alabama pick our own senator.”
Two Texas-based super PACs, however, are spending millions to help Britt get elected. Both the Alabama Christian Conservatives and Alabama RINO super PACs are based out of the same residential address in Austin, Texas.
Alabama Christian Conservatives has contributed almost $3 million to Alabama RINO, which is opposing Durant’s candidacy. Alabama Christian Conservatives have also spent about $300,000 on ads opposing both Brooks and Durant while spending $2.4 million this year on pro-Britt ads.
“All of these D.C. super PACs should stay out of Alabama, whether it’s (Senate Leadership Fund) or Club for Growth (the original Never Trump Club for China) and the Lincoln Project liberals backing my opponents,” Britt said in a statement. “The out-of-state groups should let Alabama pick our own Senator. They have no respect for the state we know and love.
“I hope they know that once I get to the Senate, I will usher in fresh blood and the next generation of conservative leadership to shake things up in Washington. My loyalty is to the people of Alabama and only the people of Alabama. And our campaign is surging because hardworking Alabamians know that I am the best candidate to defend our Christian conservative values, fight for the America First agenda, and preserve the American Dream for our children and our children’s children.”
AL.com reporter John Sharp contributed to this report.
