Tensions are rising in the Republican primary for Alabama House District 20, as State Rep. James Lomax and former Congressman Mo Brooks trade sharp accusations over their respective tax records.
In a Tax Day press release, Lomax’s campaign framed the race as a clear contrast, highlighting what it described as more than $1.5 billion in tax cuts supported during his first term while accusing Brooks of a long history of backing tax increases during his time in the Alabama Legislature.
“On Tax Day, the contrast couldn’t be clearer,” Lomax (R-Huntsville) said. “I am proud to fight every single day to cut taxes and keep more money in the pockets of District 20 families. Mo Brooks has the opposite record; a long, documented history of voting YES to raise taxes over and over again. He is a serial tax-raiser who would prefer to take from Alabama families rather than fight for them.”
The Lomax campaign cited dozens of votes from the 1980s tied to tax increases, fees and revenue measures at both the state and local level, arguing those decisions continue to impact taxpayers today.
“Mo Brooks didn’t just vote for one or two tax hikes, he voted for nearly every single one presented to him,” Lomax said. “Mo Brooks voted to raise income taxes, corporate taxes, sales taxes, property taxes, gas taxes, hotel taxes, tobacco taxes, privilege taxes, and more.”
Brooks, when contacted for comment, disputed the characterization and called the claims misleading.
“They’re lying. That’s what they do,” Brooks said.
Brooks pointed to rankings from national and state organizations to defend his record, saying, “Mo Brooks is the number one tax fighter and family income protector in Alabama history!”
He added that outside groups have consistently evaluated his record favorably.
“The Alabama Taxpayers Defense Fund ranked Mo Brooks #1 tax fighter out of 140 Alabama legislators,” Brooks said. “The National Taxpayer Union named Mo Brooks a ‘taxpayers friend’ and the number one tax fighter in Alabama’s congressional delegation.”
Brooks also referenced his role in opposing past tax increases and supporting federal tax cuts.
“Mo Brooks led the fight to beat 2003’s $1.4 billion tax hike referendum and represented the anti tax forces in the statewide televised debates,” he said. “Mo Brooks helped fight for and got a 2.5 trillion income tax cut for American families.”
Addressing specific votes cited by Lomax’s campaign, Brooks argued that some measures have been mischaracterized, particularly local fees and tax structures tied to services.
“I was protecting my citizens from tax increases by making the people who are actually consuming the services or products pay the cost of producing them,” Brooks said.
He also urged voters to rely on third-party evaluations of his record.
“That’s why I very strongly ask you to rely on what others say,” Brooks said. “The Alabama Taxpayers Defense Fund, the National Taxpayers Union, Citizens Against Government Waste, the others who have no axe to grind that have evaluated my tax fighting record.”
Lomax, elected in 2022, is serving his first term and currently holds a leadership role as House Majority Whip. Brooks previously served in the Alabama House from 1982 to 1992, on the Madison County Commission, and in Congress from 2011 to 2023.
The exchange marks an ongoing and intensifying clash in what is expected to be a closely watched primary contest in a Huntsville-area district, with tax policy and past voting records continuing to serve as central themes in the campaign. The Republican primary is May 19.
