STATE SEN-ELECT SARAH ANTHONY ELECTION NIGHT REMARKS

The full recording of Sen-Elect Sarah Anthony's victory speech can be found here.

Below is a transcription of her election night victory speech:

"

IN THIS ELECTION, AS WE ALL KNOW, THE NATION’S EYES HAVE BEEN ON MICHIGAN.

MICHIGAN’S ELECTION RESULTS -- IN CONGRESS, STATEWIDE RACES, AND STATE LEGISLATIVE RACES, BALLOT PROPOSALS – WILL HAVE AN IMPACT NOT JUST ON EVERY MICHIGANDER, BUT ALSO ON EVERY AMERICAN.

ON OUR NATION’S FUTURE.

ON DEMOCRACY ITSELF.

STANDING IN THE MIDST OF THAT AWARENESS, I AM HONORED AND HUMBLED TO HAVE BEEN ELECTED TO REPRESENT MID-MICHIGAN IN THE STATE SENATE.

***

I AM AWARE THAT I WAS NOT THE MOST LIKELY CHOICE FOR THIS OFFICE…OR ANY POLITICAL OFFICE

AND THE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS MOMENT IS NOT LOST ON ME.

THE FACT THAT MID-MICHIGAN, HOME OF AUTO WORKERS AND STATE EMPLOYEES, FARMERS AND TEACHERS, ENTREPRENEURS, NEW AMERICANS AND BIG DREAMERS…

…WOULD ELECT ITS FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO REPRESENT OUR COMMUNITY IN THE CAPITOL

…IS A TESTAMENT TO WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN PEOPLE COME TOGETHER,

WITH A SHARED BELIEF THAT OUR GOVERNMENT WORKS BETTER WHEN WE ALL HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE

***

THROUGHOUT THIS CAMPAIGN, MY TEAM AND I CONNECTED WITH THOUSANDS OF FOLKS FROM ACROSS MID-MICHIGAN.

YOU OPENED UP YOUR HOMES AND SHARED YOUR STORIES

ON FRONT PORCHES AND FAMILY FARMS

IN COFFEE SHOPS AND BEAUTY SALONS

YOU SHARED THE MANY CHALLENGES FACING OUR COMMUNITY

…WE’VE TALKED ABOUT THE PRICE OF GROCERIES AND GAS

…ABOUT SCHOOL SHOOTINGS AND GUN VIOLENCE

…ABOUT THE LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING

…ABOUT OUR STATE’S MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS

AND YOU SHARED THAT, FAR TOO OFTEN, IT FEELS LIKE NO ONE IS LISTENING…LIKE NO ONE IS FIGHTING FOR US

WELL, MID-MICHIGAN, I STOPPED BY TONIGHT TO TELL YOU IT'S A NEW DAY

WE DON’T HAVE TO SETTLE FOR POLITICS AS USUAL

FOR POLITICIANS ONLY CONCERNED WITH THE INTERESTS OF THE WEALTHY AND WELL-CONNECTED

MY COMMITMENT TO YOU IS THAT I WILL TAKE YOUR STORIES WITH ME TO THE HALLS OF POWER AND FIGHT WITH EVERY FIBER OF MY BEING TO MAKE OUR LIVES BETTER

NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE IN THE DISTRICT I’VE GOT YOUR BACK.

WHETHER OR NOT YOU VOTED FOR ME, I’VE GOT YOUR BACK.

WHETHER YOU’RE A TEACHER IN GRAND LEDGE,

A SENIOR CITIZEN IN HOLT OR MASON,

A NURSE IN DIMONDALE,

A BUSINESS OWNER IN EATON RAPIDS,

A STUDENT IN VERMONTVILLE,

A PARENT IN BELLEVUE,

AN AUTOWORKER IN DELTA TOWNSHIP,

A FARMER IN CHARLOTTE,

OR A KID FROM THE SOUTHSIDE OF LANSING,

I’VE GOT YOUR BACK.

I’M YOUR STATE SENATOR, AND I WILL BE LOOKING OUT FOR YOU.

***

YOU HAVE GIVEN ME AN AGENDA AND I UNDERSTAND THE ASSIGNMENT

THAT AGENDA INCLUDES FIGHTING FOR A SAFE, VIBRANT COMMUNITY

AN AGENDA THAT NURTURES YOUNG PEOPLE WITH THE ABILITY TO DREAM BEYOND THEIR ZIP CODE

A COMMUNITY THAT VALUES ITS SENIORS AND THOSE THAT CARE FOR THEM

AN AGENDA THAT WORKS TO BREAK CYCLES OF POVERTY

AND CREATES A FAIR JUSTICE SYSTEM FOR ALL

***

SO, TONIGHT, I AM FULL OF GRATITUDE

I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THE 21ST SENATE DISTRICT

AND FOR EVERY VOTE THAT HAS MADE THAT OPPORTUNITY POSSIBLE.

I AM GRATEFUL TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU IN THIS ROOM.

WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR A-TEAM…

OUR CAMPAIGN STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS WHO STARTED ON THIS JOURNEY OVER A YEAR AGO AND HAVE TRULY BECOME FAMILY

{A-TEAM}

I WOULD NOT BE STANDING HERE WITHOUT YOU

AND FINALLY, I MUST THANK MY FAMILY

MY PARENTS (JOHN & RURSHELL), MY SIBLINGS, NIECES, NEPHEWS, AND

FRIENDS WHO GIVE ME UNCONDITIONAL LOVE AND KEEP ME GROUNDED

WHEN THE WORLD DOESN’T MAKE SENSE.

THANK YOU

SO, FRIENDS, I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER ONE IMPORTANT THING

TONIGHT, YOU DIDN’T ELECT A POLITICIAN

YOU ELECTED A CONSENSUS BUILDER, A LISTENER, A DAUGHTER OF A UNION, MIDDLE CLASS HOUSEHOLD AND A FIGHTER FOR MID-MICHIGAN

AND THE FUTURE WE WANT FOR OUR CHILDREN AND THEIR CHILDREN WILL ONLY HAPPEN IF YOU’RE IN THIS FIGHT WITH ME

SO I INVITE YOU CELEBRATE TONIGHT

TOMORROW IS THE GENESIS OF SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL…

AND, TOMORROW, BE READY TO FIGHT FOR THE MICHIGAN WE KNOW IS POSSIBLE…FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF MICHIGANDERS

LET’S DO THIS!