Maxwell Wentz

While the outcome of this election wasn't what we worked for, I respect the decision of South Carolina voters and wish my opponent well in the work ahead. But today, more than anything, I want to say thank you. I am incredibly proud of the race we ran and grateful for the trust you placed in me and this campaign. We knew from the beginning this would be a hard-fought race. In the final two weeks, over $8 million dollars poured into South Carolina to attack me, distort my record, and demonize this campaign. We were outspent 5-to-1, but we never allowed ourselves to be dragged into the kind of campaign our opponents chose to run. We stayed focused on the issues. We talked about the out-of-control spending and debt threatening our children's future. We talked about securing our border, protecting our freedoms, and standing up to the Washington establishment. And we talked about what it means to have a Senator who will fight for the people of South Carolina—not the political class in Washington. I wouldn't change that. What we built together was real. Volunteers knocked on doors in the summer heat. People drove hours to attend events in communities that don't always get a visit from a Senate campaign. Families put signs in their yards and talked to their friends and neighbors. And you invested your hard-earned money in this campaign because you believed, as I do, that the times we are living in are too important to sit on the sidelines. I ran for the United States Senate because I believe South Carolina deserves a fighter in Washington—someone who won't back down and won't go along just to get along. The outcome of this election doesn't change that belief. This campaign was never about me. It was about all of us who believe South Carolina and this country are worth fighting for. I'm proud of the campaign we ran. I'm proud of the team that built it. And I am grateful, more than I can put into words, for your friendship, your support, and the faith you placed in me. The election may be over, but the fight for the principles we believe in is not. Keep fighting. Our state and our country are worth it. With gratitude, Ralph Norman