U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks, R-5th, announced his candidacy for U.S. Senate Monday ahead of four press conferences set in Huntsville, Birmingham, Montgomery and Mobile.

Brooks, whose congressional district encompasses Lauderdale, Limestone, Madison and Morgan counties and most of Jackson County will face several competitors in the Aug. 15 Republican primary. In addition to U.S. Sen. Luther Strange, who was appointed by former Gov. Robert Bentley in February, Brooks will compete against former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore, state Rep. Ed Henry, Christian Coalition of Alabama President Randy Brinson and businessman Dom Gentile.

Brooks said he was running because, “the greatest nation in world history is at risk, because Congress is failing the American people by not rising to the challenges America faces. He described himself as the only candidate with a record of “proven conservative leadership.”

“America’s challenges have always been great. We’ve faced and overcome the burning of our Capitol by the British, a civil war, slavery, the Great Depression, World War II, the Cold War and many, many other challenges,” Brooks said. “There is no challenge America cannot defeat if we learn from our history and the perseverance of our ancestors. The key is that America must remember who we are as a people.”