Mo Brooks tops in Huntsville straw poll, Luther Strange at bottom

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Alabama Congressman Mo Brooks came out on top in a straw poll of U.S. Senate candidates at a candidate forum Monday in his hometown of Huntsville.

AL.com reports that nine candidates took part in the event organized by the Christian Citizen Task Force, with a bipartisan audience of about 300 people.

Out of 200 votes cast for Republicans, Brooks took first with 101 votes. Former state Su­preme Chief Justice Roy Moore came in second with 74 votes; state Sen. Trip Pittman of Montrose received eight votes.

Incumbent Republican Sen. Luther Strange — who did not attend the event — tied for sixth with only three votes.

Three Republicans — James Beretta, Joseph Breault and Dom Gentile — received no votes.

Democrats cast about 40 votes; leading the count was Brian McGee, who took 19 votes.

According to AL.com, the candidates attending the forum were Democrats Will Boyd, Vann Caldwell and McGee; Republicans Randy Brinson, Brooks, Mary Maxwell, Moore, Bryan Peeples and Pittman.

Appointed to the Senate in February by then-Governor Robert Bentley, Strange is facing a crowded 10-person field for the Aug. 15 Republican primary. A primary runoff, if necessary, will be Sept. 26, with a general election Dec. 12.