By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
Tuesday, August 22, 2017, State Senator Bill Holtzclaw (R-Madison) announced that he will run for Congress in the Fifth Congressional District in the 2018 Republican Primary. Incumbent Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) has already announced that he will seek re-election to a fifth term. This will set up a highly contested primary race between the two well known Republicans.
Sen. Holtzclaw said in a statement on social media, “I still believe in the American Dream, because I’m living it. I was orphaned at birth, and lived in a United Methodist Children Home until age 5 when I was taken in by a loving family that raised me as their own. I enlisted in the Marine Corps after high school and served 20 years on active duty, including service in the Gulf War and Somalia. I married my high school sweetheart 32 years ago, and we’ve raised two wonderful daughters. After retiring from the Marine Corps I worked at NASA and served my community on the Madison City Council and later as a Senator in the Alabama State Legislature. Together we can rekindle the American Dream and make America great again. I’m asking you for another opportunity to serve; to serve as your Congressman for the 5th District.”
Bill Holtzclaw was elected to the state Senate in 2010 and re-elected in 2014. He was born at Elaine, Arkansas, May 12, 1964, and received his Bachelor of Science degree from Athens State University. Holtzclaw is retired from the United States Marine Corps. He and his wife are member of Asbury United Methodist Church. His running for the U.S. House of Representatives means that his state Senate District 2 seat will be vacant. Holtzclaw made the announcement at the Madison City Hall.
Mo Brooks was first elected to the Congress in 2010 and has been re-elected in 2012, 2014, and 2016. Brooks has previously served Madison County as a State Legislator, a County Commissioner, and as an Assistant District Attorney.
Earlier this year, Brooks ran for the US Senate seat vacated when Sen. Jeff Sessions (R) was confirmed as US Attorney General. Brooks finished third in the statewide race behind Roy Moore and Luther Strange in the August 15, Republican Primary. Moore and Strange are in the September 26 runoff election. Rep. Brooks is a founding member of the House Freedom Caucus.
This Second Congressional District is also going to be interesting new year. There incumbent Congresswoman Martha Roby is facing two challengers: State Representative Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) and Iraq war vet Sergeant Major Tommy Amason.
The Republican Primary will be on June 5, 2018.
