Thank You

I didn't want to get too far past Thanksgiving week without taking a moment to say thank you. To everyone who showed up because they believed that better is possible, we proved it - even if it’s not the post I wanted to write at this moment. In 2019 I gave a speech at a conference and said "never let a win get to your head or a loss to your heart." Easier said, but so it goes...?

A year and a half ago I made a decision that I knew would be the most challenging thing I could ever do at the time, and honestly that’s what made me want it more. It was a journey, to say the least.

Before we get too far, I’ll say that I would do it all over again if it meant sharing the experiences one more time. I was fortunate to meet some of the most amazing people that anyone would ever be so blessed to know. There was the campaign team that started with a small core group that blossomed into a real family. A lot of people refer to campaigns in that way, but if you spent one day with us, you would know that this one was a little more than just a campaign. Then there were the hundreds of small businesses, family farmers, community groups, and change makers that showed up in ways you could only wish for. They helped the campaign grow, but also brought me along on a personal journey that has reshaped me for the road ahead.

We hopped into an already competitive primary and many questioned if I got in too late or if I would be able to compete financially. We advanced with more unity and strength than has ever been witnessed. We experienced collective growth.

The campaign tested me mentally and physically, but having a team that I trusted made it a lot easier to handle. We broke fundraising records (still got massively outspent), showed up to two debates and left no uncertainty, and we truly built the largest grassroots coalition that I said we would from the very start. It was constant growth.

The novelty of a race like that can be, along with so many other feelings, both inspiring and frightening. It was scary enough to some that we saw unprecedented spending on negative advertising against me. Truly an historic election. People would ask how it impacted me personally. It honestly made me feel like we were doing something right if those were the lows they were willing to stoop to or tell the lies they were willing to tell. We gave everything... when the polls went low, the energy from our supporters went astronomically high - it was all gas no brakes in the final stretch.

A twenty six million dollar outside spending disparity and twenty six thousand votes are two figures that will sit with me for some time. In the end, we had the closest Wisconsin U.S. Senate race in 100 years. This campaign was the most competitive of all challengers in the entire country.

This season of thanksgiving, I am thankful for growth. I am thankful for the outpouring of support over the last year and a half. I'm thankful for the the volunteers, donors, the strangers turned friends, the people who didn’t ignore those texts we sent all the time, my parents, and the most amazing campaign team to ever be assembled. You all have all left a mark on this state for good, for better. Way too many people to tag, but you know who you are.

The word from this Sunday was failure is not fatal and success is not final. I have fought the good fight, I have run the race, I have kept the faith… Let’s continue to keep the faith, continue to grow and fight together, for each other, for as long as it takes to make things better.

Thank you...