Public Theology: Thank You

Dear Friends,

This morning, our journey came to an end. It is not the outcome we wanted, but after all the votes have been counted, it is the undeniable outcome of democracy in action. The final result is achingly close, but it is definitive, and Governor Pat Quinn will be the Democratic nominee.

A little while ago, I called Governor Quinn to offer my congratulations and let him know he has my full support.

Today is bittersweet. Ours was a hard fought campaign with an underdog spirit, and we accomplished so much in the last five months. We brought attention to state's budget crisis and the need for greater fiscal responsibility. We fought for ethics reform and greater openness and accountability in government. We worked hard to improve education and public safety for everyone in Illinois.

I am so proud of you, my supporters, and I want to thank you for everything you did for this campaign.

Much of the attention our race received focused on inside baseball and the political back-and-forth that the pundits love – but that matters hardly at all to the people of Illinois. What you always knew, and the reason we came so close, was that our campaign was about the art of the possible. It was about taking stock of what we have in Illinois, and providing leadership focused on tomorrow – always driven by the notion that we can do better. This was never a criticism of anyone, it was a guidepost.

In the end, we came agonizingly close. It is tempting at a time like this to run through different scenarios and wonder what we might have done differently to alter the outcome just enough. I'm sure I'll have a few of those moments myself. But know this: I am so incredibly proud of the campaign we ran and the spirit behind it, and, no matter how close the margin, I can say this: I would do it all over again! Most of all, I'd want to do this journey with you!

Thank you. Thank you for your time, thank you for your energy, thank you for your support, and thank you putting your faith in me to lead Illinois forward. It is a debt I will never be able to repay, and I am forever honored.

Sincerely,

Dan