Senator-Elect Capito's Victory Speech

The Capito for Senate Campaign today released the following speech as prepared for delivery:

Senator-Elect Shelley Moore Capito
Election Night Victory Speech
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Charleston, WV

West Virginia was one of the FIRST tonight! And, West Virginia got it right.

I want to be FIRST to share with you how optimistic I am for our future. Around the country today, Americans came together and made their voices heard to tell Washington that we can do better. And, West Virginians voted to send a new voice to Washington to speak for them that will always fight for our values.

I go to the Senate with a mandate to make Washington work for West Virginia again -- to end Washington's practice of picking winners and losers. Tonight I want to be the FIRST to extend my hand of cooperation to Senator Joe Manchin and the members of the West Virginia congressional delegation to join me in this fight to put West Virginia FIRST again.

For the FIRST time in our state's history West Virginians are sending a woman to the United States Senate. I am honored and excited to be standing here as that Senator. It is impossible to convey how much gratitude I feel and how humbled I am by your confidence. I hope that I live up to your highest standards and that my service will serve as a role model for young women of our state and an inspiration for them that they too can achieve great things.

We were FIRST to send President Obama the message that his policies were on the ballot today. And, it can be heard loud and clear in the White House that this President's failed agenda doesn't work for West Virginia.

West Virginians FIRST want a faster growing economy, better job opportunities, a strong middle class and certainty that their hard work will pay off. They also want an all-of-the-above energy policy -- that includes coal. They want the ability to choose their doctors and have the freedom to make their own healthcare decisions. They want a national security policy that protects their families and keeps our homeland safe.

The FIRST step toward creating a better future is making the Senate work for West Virginia again. I am looking forward to working with Senators from all over the country -- on both sides of the aisle -- that share the same optimism for our country that I have. Together, I hope we can reinstate respect for the institution of the Senate -- a place where deliberation and debate are valued and all voices are heard.

This election marks a true turning point in our state's history. It is the FIRST time in nearly sixty years we elected a Republican to U. S. Senate. And, with it our state's political climate has returned to a competitive two party system I hope will produce bi-partisan solutions to our problems that will in turn make our state more prosperous and our communities stronger.

Let me say thank you to a lot of people who helped make tonight possible:

I would like to thank my family for their help, support and sense of humor over the course of this campaign -- especially my husband Charlie who was always there FIRST to lend moral support and push me along to the finish. It has been a long, but fun and very memorable journey.

To my campaign staff and volunteers let me be the FIRST to thank you for all your hard work and tireless efforts over these last two years. You made a real difference for our state.

Most of all, to West Virginians, the responsibility that comes with serving you in the United States Senate will always be FIRST on my mind. And, I promise that I will fight hard every day to make sure your voice is heard.

Thank you!

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