Message from Daniel Gade
“I’m a career servant of the Constitution, not a lifelong politician. I enlisted in the US Army as a private in 1992, and retired as a lieutenant colonel in 2017. I was wounded in action twice and decorated for valor; after I lost my leg in battle, I was able to go on to earn both a Master’s and a PhD in public administration and serve under three different Presidential administrations. In short, I have always served America and the Constitution and will continue to do so in the future.
I’m deeply grateful to the tens of thousands of donors and volunteers who powered this campaign and the millions of Virginians who honored me with their vote last night. This was an entirely grassroots campaign, fueled by Virginians for Virginians, and we far out-performed the expectations of the media and the establishment, despite millions of dollars of negative attacks and being outspent 4-to-1. My opponent even claimed, absurdly, that a disabled combat veteran would be against protecting people with preexisting conditions.
From Lee County to Accomack County, from Danville to Chesterfield, from Winchester to Fairfax, it was an honor to meet Virginians and be a part of something bigger than myself. Together, we earned more votes than any Republican U.S. Senate candidate in Virginia—ever. Our campaign made over 2 million individual voter contacts, raised over 5 million dollars, and did over 250 in person events. We were relentless in fighting for our Conservative values. COVID has redefined campaigning and I’m extremely proud of the volunteers who sacrificed so much for our cause.
This race was about serving America, the Constitution and fighting for our shared values, as I’ve always done. I ran for my children and grandchildren, and because God has given us a great country for which I am willing to fight. During my 25 years of military service, I saw both the best and the worst of humanity, but my faith in our country never wavered. This campaign has reminded me America is always worth sacrificing for.
I will never stop fighting for our country and for the Constitution which sustains it, but this race is over. I concede and call on all of my supporters to recognize state and federal results with peace and unity. No matter the results of the Presidential election, in particular, it is paramount that every American realize that we still live in the greatest country on earth, and to work towards ‘liberty and justice for all.’
My family and my faith are the most important things in my life. My wife and I have been happily married for over 21 years, and our three great kids stood by my side this entire time. We are stronger and more resilient than ever, and look forward to a bright future, wherever the road may lead.”