Who Is Katie Britt? Alabama Senate Favorite Pushes for Trump Endorsement
Republican Katie Britt is the new favorite in a hotly-contested Alabama Senate race, after former president Donald Trump withdrew his support for challenger Mo Brooks on Wednesday.
After Trump rescinded his endorsement for the Brooks, the Alabama Congressman's odds plummeted and Britt's rose.
In a statement announcing the withdrawal, Trump accused the Alabama congressman of going "woke" for saying that Republicans should put claims that the 2020 election result was a hoax behind them.
The Republican primary for Alabama is due to take place on May 24, where Britt will face both Brooks and Michael Durant, who has also seen his chances rise in recent days.
Britt, the former head of the Business Council of Alabama and one-time chief of staff to retiring Sen. Richard Shelby, now appears to be pushing for Donald Trump's endorsement, which historically has carried a lot of weight in elections. In both 2018 and 2020, Trump-endorsed candidates won nearly every primary they competed in. Shelby is the current senior United States senator from Alabama.
In an interview with AL.com on Wednesday, she parroted Trump's unsubstantiated claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him.
"I believe that there was fraud," Britt said. "I think you have to have a forensic audit. You have to give people peace and clear confidence that their vote is going to matter the next time."
She said she had spoken with Trump about her campaign strategy and her work ethic.
"I really stressed to him about our work ethic. I truly believe nobody is working harder, and I believe the people of Alabama are worth that. Rest assured if somebody is not working hard right now, they are not going to work hard once they get there, and so I told him about going to every single [Alabama] county before anybody else had done that," Britt added.
Mo Brooks was the initial favorite in the Alabama Senate race, but his odds have lowered since Trump withdrew his support—from 2-1 to 20-1.
Meanwhile Britt's odds have improved, and she is now the favorite to win. Since March 18, her odds have increased from 11-8 to 4-5, according to the bookmakers.
"Mo Brooks was once the favorite to win the U.S. Senate seat in Alabama, but after losing his endorsement from Donald Trump and speaking out against the former president, Brooks' odds have taken a serious hit," a US-Bookies spokesperson said in an email to Newsweek. "Bookies are now predicting that he'll get the least amount of votes among other Trump-backed candidates in the upcoming primaries."
Britt's campaign has focused on Christian and conservative values, including stopping abortion. She claimed she cares about Alabama more than any other candidate, despite only just surpassing Durant in the polls.
"There is no doubt that I am the best candidate," said Britt. "I am the only candidate that was born and raised here. I love this state."
Newsweek has contacted Britt for comment.
Brooks on Wednesday said that Trump let Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell "manipulate him again" after the former precedent rescinded his endorsement.
