Dear friends and supporters:

I just wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude for the many sacrifices you all made on my behalf during this long and stressful election cycle. Each of you helped me earn the nearly 1.5 million votes cast for my campaign yesterday, and I will forever be grateful to you for the contributions you made, the hours you logged, the signs you placed, the letters you sent and the events you hosted.

Last night, I called Senator Durbin and congratulated him on his victory, and I also offered my condolences on the passing of his daughter over the weekend. As a parent, I cannot imagine having to cope with that loss.

I told those who gathered with me in Lombard last night that I didn't enter this campaign because I had a burning desire to be a United States Senator. I didn't subject myself and my family to the rigors of a statewide run because I liked seeing my face on TV or hearing my voice on the radio. No, I entered this race because I believe in Illinois, and the people of Illinois, and because I believe our government can and should do better.

We may have come up short, but our efforts were not in vain and our work is not done. Each of us has an obligation to the next generation to continue to fight for what we believe in, to continue to fight for what we know is right, and to continue to fight for the future of Illinois.

Thank you again for all of your hard work, and I am so glad to have had the opportunity to get to know so many of you.

God bless you all.

steve