Brian's Concession Speech

Transcript:

This isn't exactly the evening I was hoping for, but we had a great race, and I know this: it was a spirited campaign but because of this primary Creigh Deeds is now an invincible candidate running for the fall!

I woke this morning to the sounds of thunder, we're going to go to bed tonight with the sounds of thunder of this Democratic party and we're going to win it in November and keep a democrat in the governor's office.

I've known my friend Creigh Deeds, Creigh and I sat together for six years. Maybe because of those six years some of my positions rubbed off on him and that's why he's such a great candidate.

He called me tonight and said, "I can't do this without you Brian." and I told him, "Creigh, you're going to have me by your side, we're going to work as hard as we possibly can and we'll win in November."

We ran on issues of the environment, to say no to offshore drilling. We ran on issues: the importance of the environment, to our kids' future, to the importance clean air and clean water, and no to a new coal plant in Surry because we can insure a greater economic viability by investing in wind and solar, and clean alternative energy sources. We also ran on insuring every singe Virginia child has an opportunity in this great commonwealth. And we ran for this great commonwealth making sure we provided equality to every single Virginian. We ran on the right issues, we ran a great campaign.

I look around and I see folks from a long time ago, I'm not going to go through the whole list because I might get a little emotional, you know how I am, but thank you so very very much. I was introduced by our wonderful Congressman from the 8th congressional district.

Before I get to my best friend and partner in all of this, I see many of the elected officials who stood by my side, from the house of delegates. Thank you, I will miss you guys. To all those local elected officials I see in the crowd, you stood with me in a primary and I know that is difficult to do and I will forever-ever be grateful.. I'm sorry I wasn't able to make it, but we'll call come together come--come now! Come together and work together and make sure we have a democrat in the governor's office. I do appreciate you all standing with me and supporting me.

With results today, now I know really which name should have been on that ballot: Karyn Moran! And of course these little guys, you're going to have to go to school tomorrow guys...they were hoping for a little late celebration.

Let me also thank the campaign. Mame Reilly, the campaign chair. Andrew Roos, the campaign manager, and the entire staff, and Jesse Ferguson, he's been with me so long. All of you, we have so many wonderful volunteers. I see the "terrific trio," I called you all today, Frank Anderson and Todd Smyth and Herb Smith, you guys are just great.

I thank family who has come down, seven kids, guys you know this, I might get choked up on this one. My Dad was a football coach, and he said, "You know, you leave it all on the football field and you play every single down as though it was your last." Ladies and gentlemen, if at the conclusion of that game you played every down as if it was your last, win or lose you can hold your head high. I say to you, we can hold our heads up high tonight! We left nothing on the field, we worked as hard as possible, together we worked so hard and I thank each and every one of you. Let's get started tomorrow and do the work that we need to win in November! Thank you all very much!