Transcript for Luther Strange speaks after projected defeat in Alabama GOP Senate primary runoff

Well thank you are appropriate here thank you thank you thank you. I just tonight to say thank you to each and everyone of you who are here tonight this is not the result that we want it. I congratulate judge Moore I've already talked him on the phone lists about what's in the best we Republicans we care very much about this country care very much about the state. And now we wish him the best going forward. As he faces the next challenge you know what I'm favorite prayers. That I really lean on. Asked us to give thanks to god. For. Selling us a task that teach us through allowed him alone. The hard test things that are. In the end of the day you have to rely on. Something way more powerful than yourself you're navigating new orders you don't always understand and at the end of that boy humor and they can who could. It's god that's. That's the kind of prayer that really means something envoy. And we set ourselves. To a task in this race. It absolutely was a task. Lifetime revealing what the political environment and I've never had any experience what. I worked in the nor serious. Marshall ray and I for a meal we had some rough seas we have some safe and almost turned. But I'm telling the city's political city's political winds in this country right now our Mary Hardin have their very hard to understand. So it's been a tough deal could be any proud of the campaign that we Ryan ran you know I'm an old athlete basketball player we left everything out on the field. There's nothing else virtually the court announced on the court we did everything we possibly can wouldn't change it at all. There's a lot of winds blowing politically is us and thickest or cordless scorecard sort all that out a lot of agendas. In this country on the leaders of the pundits to figure all that. My focus has always been on Alabama. People of our great stated really making a difference. I'll take comfort in the words of president Teddy Roosevelt whose that is really not the pundits the critics' account it's via man in the arena. And a man and woman of the women's in the arena. There there was it really make the difference and I'm the continue to do everything I can to encourage. Our citizens and especially our young folks to get involved in the ring that we have to. Involved that's the future of our state. So what I want to do is what I've always wanted to do without it said this about water laws. I want to say thank you they say thank you every single person in this room. Every single person I grew up. Less than a mile from here and from coaches and teachers. Are young life ministers and mentors and friends and best friends. They showed me to do you I am to be back here. A stone's throw up or allow it to elementary school to say thank you for your votes your prayers your encouragement. Just the kindness along the trail in a very harsh. And tough political environment I want to say thank you to each and every once you give yourself a hand really. I want to say I want to say. What I say thank you to the citizens of Alabama. You know I've been very lucky cattle exports maybe that prepared for this you win some games loss of last segment. Of one some last second play in overtime. You'll back in locker room. And you think what could have done different everybody tomorrow have an opinion about what passed which what flavors of the call whatever. I'm not gonna lose any sleep tonight we did the right thing we do the right way. I want to say. However I want to say thank you commit. Thank you the citizens of this not just friends and supporters view but it may bonuses since Tuesday. That honor to serve for six years as attorney general. During the most contentious times in recent state history where we had to clean up Montgomery where we had to get justice for the Gulf of Mexico and the biggest environmental disaster. I was lucky have to serve in the United States senate at a time when we have a new president I'm looking good for conservative judges of the Supreme Court. Time we could really is like a different so I've been blessed. And I want to thank the citizens for giving me the highest honor I can possibly imagine. All across the state if you're listening tonight I would just say thank you view a wanna say thank you to my campaign came. There here they've worked there. You know what's off and I want to thank him it's not for lack of a good campaign and all boils down to the person who was running take full responsibility. Success entire outfit on his success. When everyone either I want to take responsibility for that. And I do that I want to thank my office staff. In about it works are being watched if you raise your hands I know lots of them are here. I wish you give them a hand. They've. They were. They worked tirelessly for the citizens of Alabama and they do it because they love our state. And they're gonna continue to do that for the remaining time that I am in the senate they are magnificent public service and I want to thank them. Kevin turner my chief of staff. These special recognition and a cancers somewhere our. Kevin's that kind of sharp young person indeed to be successful authors started out as a drive me around and and a vehement cheapest AG in the senate and is not only been a great campaign. Friend but also a great public servant and is given up a lot of opportunities view that serve the people of the state just want him to know how much I appreciate that. What that pres the United States. Thank. The president took a chance he didn't have to come down I'm sure to be criticized for coming to campaign for bait. That's what loyal friends do. Sometimes more than politics sometimes developed as the friendship. Just a common goal to make the country better. And the bond when you come to Washington. As a newcomer if you will and you sort of city officials got navigate. I can explain why he was willing to take that risk except that he's a friend and a loyal friend in this this cause any trouble with not his fault. The fault always lives in the and editor of the head coach. The god told ball and that's my responsibility. Or affect the vice president. He came here last night. He's very great conservative leader president of the senate. A guy I've gotten in overtime. The great conservative Christian person a great faith. Driving to the rally last night media attended we got a chance to talk about what's really important. And he said you know Luther really. I'm glad to be your view that there are so many bigger things in world involved in the world. And just one political campaign he drowned the volume list. Are wonderful couple you know for first become. We've all things went on the world. And say that about and willing sectors that's the kind of person you want in the fog so America's lucky to have. My penis is our fight fairy. However I want to thank Richard Shelby. I took its place is tall sky in the senate. Set a record is tossed senate Richar was a friend for thirty years. He commander's arm and I came to Washington has been a great mentor and supported me throughout this process. And when things get. It's always nice to have a guy Hugo log on the home state university thing like this. And then politics for a long time and he had to say the other I've never seen anything like that. No place in any thing like this or at that Jeff Sessions. Jeff Sessions was my mentor when I came in the politics. Jeff got me into politics. He was a great attorney general I was glad to take its place to turn general fallen asleep. He was a great senator for twenty years I was honored to take his place in the United States senate. And ascendancy if he sits in now on the senate just going to be great attorney general for our country and I want to thank Jeff and Mary would be if that's your friends of ours. Found on a thing about senate colleagues. You know the senate is a magnificent institution in the short time and there. I've been able to set reflect on the great debates have been held there think about the things that we are good on the scene kind of when you think about slavery. Think about civil right and you think about voting wise we think about wars world wars. It even though we're in a incredibly contentious. Swirling passions. It's nothing compared with some of the things about him in the United States and I'll tell you right now as someone's been privileged to sit there. That it will be a magnificent place. It has its problems people get very frustrated with no one more frustrated than. But I promise you some problems facing our country will be solved there men's made there'll be lifelong friend. What you have confidence in the institutions of this country. Aside let's give a hand to the senate probably. And finally finally those who forget this. The most important thing that I consider knives how much I appreciate Melissa and and. And kids put up with more than any one person should have to bear as you really learn what we're better words really mean. But for 36 years it's been all for the better and one we could and I. Seven next almost exactly I got to hold my second grandson and arms young James stranger came into the world. And I'll tell you as we face this whirl win. This unpredictable political environment to hold in my hands and look at. The next generation and say well why what we've really do why put yourself. While you really hear what the fight these wars it's for that generations for those beautiful young children come next. After. So let me leave you with this so I'll leave you with what I have on aside. And I look at it every morning and ballistic if Republica together. It's right there. That's not favorite Bible verse and it's one that someone gave you and I came and the politics. And it's proverbs nineteen when he won. And it says been here the plants in a man's heart. There's the lord's purpose that will prevail. I truly believe that I think that the heart every day and I have no doubt of the truth. Of that verse as I leave here tonight so let's say one more time. Thank you thank you thank you each and every one of you in this room quote it's all about part. God bless each and every one of you and did not back.

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