Just about 41 years ago, while I was a law student, I had the opportunity to introduce a U.S. Senator who’d traveled down to our school to give a speech.
His name was Joe Biden.
Since that moment, I’ve had the pleasure of calling him my friend. And a week ago today, after the people of Alabama turned out to vote and I learned that I would be our state’s next senator, he was one of the first people who called me.
I have to tell you, when I first took that stage after having been declared Senator-Elect, I almost didn’t know what the hell to say. But I found my words, and I sure have them now.
Thank you. Thank you to my wife. My family. Thank you to the millions of Alabamians who believed in me enough to give that most sacred gesture of confidence our democracy guarantees us: A vote. Thank you to my friends — both those I’ve met on the trail these past months, and old friends, too, like Joe.
And thank you. Thank you for letting Joe know that you believed in me. That you wanted your donations to help support our campaign. Thank you.
The work you do here, with Joe Biden, matters. When you speak up, when you share the local leaders that you believe in — not only does this outfit hear that feedback, they listen to it. They make decisions based on what you say. I’ll tell you, that’s not how most political organizations work in this country. But it should be.
So, let’s keep going. Keep speaking up. Keep talking to your friends, your family, your neighbors, about the qualities you’d like to see in a new wave of American leadership.
I have always believed that the people of Alabama have more in common than what divides us. Last Tuesday proves it. It will be one of the greatest honors of my life to represent the people of Alabama in the United States Senate.
Thank you. Let’s go do some work.
-Doug Jones
