U.S. Rep. Barry Moore elected in Alabama’s 1st Congressional District

U.S. Rep. Barry Moore, R-Enterprise, listens during a hearing at the Heritage Foundation June 21, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Alex Wong/)

U.S. Rep. Barry Moore, R-Enterprise, won a third term in Congress Tuesday, easily defeating Democratic challenger Tom Holmes.

The Associated Press called the race at 9:35 p.m., about two hours after the polls closed. As of 9:41 p.m. Tuesday, with about 65% of precincts reporting, Moore had 166,842 votes (79.5%) in unofficial returns. Holmes had 43,089 votes (20.5%).

Moore has represented the 2nd Congressional District since 2021. A federal court approved a new congressional map last year that put Moore into a newly-drawn 1st Congressional District, which takes in the Wiregrass, southern Alabama, Baldwin County and parts of Mobile County.

Moore narrowly defeated U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl, R-Mobile, the incumbent in the 1st district, for the party's nomination in March.

Holmes is a former state government employee and former CEO and executive director of The Arc of Alabama, an organization advocating for disabled people. He positioned himself as a voice for marginalized people, centering issues like health care, reproductive rights, and voting access in his campaign.

Moore positioned himself with the more conservative faction of the Republican Party, aligning himself with former President Donald Trump. He is the sole member of Alabama's delegation to belong to the House Freedom Caucus, often seen as the most right-leaning group within the House Republicans. He has garnered endorsements from prominent figures during the Republican primary, including Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.