Jeff Flake

opinion contributor

After delivering my farewell address in the Senate Chamber Dec. 13, I pulled out the drawer of my desk to complete a ritual performed by senators dating back to the 1800s.

Among the familiar names carved in the dark mahogany were Sens. Paul Fannin and Barry Goldwater. As I etched in my own signature, I was overwhelmed by a feeling of humility and gratitude for having had the privilege of representing Arizona in the nation’s capital.

To the voters of Arizona, thank you for allowing me to serve for the past 18 years, 12 in the House and six in the Senate. I appreciate the support, encouragement, advice and even the criticism. The beauty of our system is that the people reign supreme, and democracy works best when it is a vigorous conversation.

Well, for nearly two decades you, my bosses, have kept me on my toes, and sometimes back on my heels. And I cannot adequately thank you for the honor.

First, a round of thanks

To my wife, Cheryl, and our five children, I can never repay you for your sacrifice. Our kids grew up thinking it was normal to have their faces plastered on campaign signs every two years. They were hauled to countless fundraisers and campaign events, and were often relegated to having their dad join them with a choreographed wave on C-Span at dinnertime.

Their wardrobe consisted almost solely of Jeff Flake for Congress swag. They spent summers in Washington catching fireflies and voting with their dad on the House floor, later serving as interns and congressional pages. Much of it they endured, some of it they enjoyed, and through all of it they were not just good sports but were extraordinarily understanding and supportive.

To my extended family and friends who pounded campaign signs, gathered signatures, manned phone banks, cheered at rallies and organized endless fundraisers, I can’t thank you enough. To my professional, dedicated staff, some of whom were with me for nearly two decades, you are the best, and you served our state and country well.

To my Republican and Democratic colleagues in the Arizona delegation who showed me how to provide meaningful constituent service and who routinely put aside partisan differences to help Arizona grow and prosper, thank you. To serve alongside Senator McCain was an honor I never thought I would have – and was everything I thought it would be.

Regarding the media, there’s an old saying on Capitol Hill that when you’re in the House, you run toward the press, and when you’re in the Senate, you run in the opposite direction. I’ve done both in my time.

The press has been unsparing, as it should be. But all in all, I’ve probably received better treatment than I deserved.

Thank you, all of you.

Now, a warning to Republicans

As I take my leave, I would be remiss if I did not express a few words of concern about the direction of my party, the Republican Party.

Lately, the party that has long been my political home has become defined by its resentments rather than its ambitions, and dominated by its fears rather than its principles. We have given ourselves over to conspiracy theories and given in to the impulse to vilify and divide, rather than exalt and unite.

A political vision that is determined to turn American against American is beyond reckless, and is, quite simply, a prescription for political extinction. If we want to remain a viable alternative in the future, we need to play a game of addition rather than subtraction.

We have adapted far too easily to a crude and coarse dialogue emanating from our leaders that we would never have tolerated from our opponents. We have become numb to language that is unbecoming of public servants at any level of government. Such theatrics may excite our political base, but that base becomes smaller with every new slight, with every new insult.

For a party that believes in free markets, the market sent us a resounding message through the midterm elections: While there is an audience for unkindness, that audience isn’t large enough carry the Republican Party to victory in most congressional districts and all but a few states.

For this, someday we will all be grateful.

What makes me proud and hopeful

This new image that many have embraced does not suit us, and the faster we realize it, the better. Americans yearn to hear a hopeful, inspiring message, one that is encouraging and welcoming, an affirmation that our political opponents are not our enemies, that there is common ground to be found.

That is what drew me to the Republican Party as a young man, and it is the message that inspires me still.

Through all, and sometimes in spite of ourselves, we continue to move ever forward. Speaking of which, next week I’ll have the good fortune to stand in the Senate Chamber one more time to witness another ritual of our democracy. I’ll be thinking of my great grandfather, James Madison Flake, who more than a century ago campaigned across Arizona to promote women’s suffrage.

How proud he would be to witness two women being sworn in to represent Arizona in the United States Senate. His great-grandson will be there in his stead, so proud of this great milestone, so proud of our state.

Ever forward. For such progress, we can all be grateful.

Jeff Flake became Arizona's junior senator in 2013. He is retiring at the end of the year.

READ MORE: