North Alabama's Republican congressmen won re-election Tuesday under little real threat from their Democratic challengers.

U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt, of Haleyville, and U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks, of Huntsville, had comfortable leads as returns continued to come in through the night. Aderholt picked Colbert and Lawrence counties in redistricting, while Brooks continues to represent Lauderdale County in the Shoals.

Aderholt, who has served in the House for 16 years, said there are many pressing issues facing Congress in the coming weeks, including the expiration of the Bush tax cuts and sequestration.

"There is a lot of work to do," he said. "We've got to try to jump-start the economy. We've got our work cut out for us."

Assuming President Obama wins re-election, the question remains whether Democrats and Republicans can find common ground to help get the economy back in full working order.

Aderholt said Obama has not reached across the political aisle as he said he would do, and that has caused problems.

"Obama said he would when he was elected, but in the past couple of years he has not," Aderholt said. "He campaigned on the premise that the two sides can come together and force a compromise. (Mitt) Romney did that in Massachusetts, and he has experience with that, so I think he can do that."

Both parties, as well as the electorate, have become more polarized in their views the past 12 years. Achieving meaningful compromise on the toughest economic issues remains an elusive proposition. Aderholt defeated state legislator Daniel Boman, of Sulligent.

With 70 percent of precincts reporting at 10:30 p.m., Aderholt had 70 percent of the vote to Bowman's 30 percent.

Aderholt carried the Shoals easily. In Colbert County, he had 58 percent of the vote, and in Franklin County he had 69 percent of the vote.

Boman was elected to the state House of Representatives in 2010 as a Republican, but switched to the Democratic Party a year later.

Brooks, the first Republican to win election to Congress from the Tennessee Valley in 138 years in 2010, said his historic re-election is proof that he kept his promises to pursue a fiscally conservative course and defend fundamental constitutional principles.

With 86 percent of precincts reporting at 10:30 p.m., Brooks had 66 percent of the vote to Democrat Charlie Holley's 34 percent. Holley is a computer technician employed by Huntsville Hospital.

In Lauderdale County, Brooks had 64 percent of the vote.

Also asked about ways to find compromises with the Obama administration, Brooks said compromise is possible only if Obama comes forward with ideas that fit the conservative agenda.

"I hope the White House will agree to compromise to sound economic policies that reduce the size of government and the spending that goes with it," he said.

Returns from across the country Tuesday night indicated Republicans will retain control of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Robert Palmer can be reached at 256-740-5720 or robert.palmer@TimesDaily.com.

4th Congressional District

5th Congressional District

* All precincts not reporting