I am sad that it is over and glad that it is overall at the same time. It was a grind. But also incredibly rewarding to be able to meet neighbors and friends at 40 events in living rooms and community clubhouses across Williamson County. I am going to miss meeting voters and having really great conversations along the way.
I lost my bid for state senate by only 787 votes garnering 48.4% of the vote. And what you won’t hear reported in any media is that I actually won Election Day with 54.2% of the vote. We knew that we had the momentum at the polls. But evidently not enough to overcome the losses in early voting.
While it certainly does carry a little heartburn to work so hard and come up short, I could not be prouder of the campaign we ran and coming so close to taking down a 16-year incumbent backed by the entire establishment and being outspent an estimated 5 to 1.
But what now? What does this loss mean moving forward.
Clearly, our message resonated with voters. Half of Republicans who turned out to vote are deeply concerned with medical freedom, election integrity, getting progressive agendas out of our schools, corporate welfare, and the strings attached to the $20 Billion federal dollars that help to run our state.
The other half, I suppose, believe that as long as taxes are low, everything else will simply take care of itself. At least, that is precisely what Jack Johnson believes. According to a report in the Williamson Homepage, Johnson had this to say during his victory speech…
“Johnson said that the biggest lesson he’s learned from the race is in messaging to new Tennessee voters who are flocking to the Volunteer State and to Williamson County from all over the country.
‘I think we’ve got to do a better job of communicating what we’re doing here in Tennessee and the great stuff that’s going on in the Tennessee General Assembly, and so I look forward to the opportunity to do that,’ he said.”
So, it’s not that half of the voters rejected Johnson’s leadership and his abject failure in addressing the myriad of issues listed above. It’s just that so many voters do not understand how great things already are. All of you who voted for Gary, you just don’t get it. So, over the next four years, Jack Johnson is just going to do a better job of making sure that voters realize how good they have it and all of the wonderful things that our government is doing for us.
Johnson also said, “I think that our message of low taxes and pro-business friendly environment resonated with voters and it’s what got us across the finish line.”
Let me be the first to say that this tone-deaf response is repugnant, what we’ve come to expect from the current GOP leadership, and it is why establishment incumbents are going to be continually challenged in every single Republican Primary until real conservatives take this party back. You can count it.
What many of you across the state don’t know about my race is the attacks our campaign endured from PACs via mail and through digital campaigns. Eight (8) mail pieces were sent across Williamson County attacking me as a grifter, democrat in disguise, anti-business, anti-capitalist, working against conservatives, along with other savory lies. Three PACs engaged in this activity, the Tennessee Conservatives PAC, Tennesseans for Putting Students First (50Can Action Fund), and the MCPAC (personal slush fund Lt. Gov. Randy McNally).
All of the reporting will not be available until October, but it is estimated that Randy McNally alone spent upwards of $300,000 attacking me during my campaign. And the primary message was that I was an anti-business radical, a hysterical radical. Here are a few fun excerpts.
Reflections and looking forward from the campaign trail.
I am sad that it is over and glad that it is overall at the same time. It was a grind. But also incredibly rewarding to be able to meet neighbors and friends at 40 events in living rooms and community clubhouses across Williamson County. I am going to miss meeting voters and having really great conversations along the way.
I lost my bid for state senate by only 787 votes garnering 48.4% of the vote. And what you won’t hear reported in any media is that I actually won Election Day with 54.2% of the vote. We knew that we had the momentum at the polls. But evidently not enough to overcome the losses in early voting.
While it certainly does carry a little heartburn to work so hard and come up short, I could not be prouder of the campaign we ran and coming so close to taking down a 16-year incumbent backed by the entire establishment and being outspent an estimated 5 to 1.
But what now? What does this loss mean moving forward.
Clearly, our message resonated with voters. Half of Republicans who turned out to vote are deeply concerned with medical freedom, election integrity, getting progressive agendas out of our schools, corporate welfare, and the strings attached to the $20 Billion federal dollars that help to run our state.
The other half, I suppose, believe that as long as taxes are low, everything else will simply take care of itself. At least, that is precisely what Jack Johnson believes. According to a report in the Williamson Homepage, Johnson had this to say during his victory speech…
So, it’s not that half of the voters rejected Johnson’s leadership and his abject failure in addressing the myriad of issues listed above. It’s just that so many voters do not understand how great things already are. All of you who voted for Gary, you just don’t get it. So, over the next four years, Jack Johnson is just going to do a better job of making sure that voters realize how good they have it and all of the wonderful things that our government is doing for us.
Johnson also said, “I think that our message of low taxes and pro-business friendly environment resonated with voters and it’s what got us across the finish line.”
Let me be the first to say that this tone-deaf response is repugnant, what we’ve come to expect from the current GOP leadership, and it is why establishment incumbents are going to be continually challenged in every single Republican Primary until real conservatives take this party back. You can count it.
What many of you across the state don’t know about my race is the attacks our campaign endured from PACs via mail and through digital campaigns. Eight (8) mail pieces were sent across Williamson County attacking me as a grifter, democrat in disguise, anti-business, anti-capitalist, working against conservatives, along with other savory lies. Three PACs engaged in this activity, the Tennessee Conservatives PAC, Tennesseans for Putting Students First (50Can Action Fund), and the MCPAC (personal slush fund Lt. Gov. Randy McNally).
All of the reporting will not be available until October, but it is estimated that Randy McNally alone spent upwards of $300,000 attacking me during my campaign. And the primary message was that I was an anti-business radical, a hysterical radical. Here are a few fun excerpts.
It is no secret that I already thought that the General Assembly was in bad shape. But after running a campaign challenging one of the leaders in their ranks, I have confirmed my suspicions that these are unprincipled men, willing to lie, cheat, manipulate, deceive, and use any means necessary to hang onto power. I have nothing redeeming to say about my experience running against Jack Johnson.
When a local group of citizens worked to organize a debate between me and Jack, he flat out refused stating that “he does not speak with his opponents.” His campaign strategist, Ward Baker, illegally coordinated with outside PACs to launch attacks and mail campaigns against me. They worked with local GOP goons to message lies about me and my campaign to Williamson County voters. His campaign ran push polls calling me a carpet bagger, anti-business, a lobbyist, and mischaracterizing my work with other organizations. There was no character displayed here or an honest debate of ideas. Only a willingness to do whatever it takes to win.
So, Tennessee, here is my commitment to you. We will never stop.
What unprincipled men do not understand is that principled men do not lay down the fight. Tennessee Stands is stronger than it’s ever been. The organization has grown. Our base has grown. Our reach has grown. And our strategies have become that much more sophisticated.
While I lost my bid for state senate, conservatives did have some wins across the state. We did make some strides. And now, more people are paying attention. So, upward, and onward my friends. We are just getting started.
We are going to win.
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Gary Humble
Gary Humble