I want to thank each and every one of the 26,276 people who voted for me in this election. Unfortunately, it was not enough to prevail, as we lost 45%-37%, with others earning 18% of the vote.
Our vote total was an incredible achievement given we were out spent 8-1 and given the large field. It is safe to say we got a long more bang for our buck! However, I want to congratulate Kevin Yoder on his victory and wish him well in the fall.
I also want to thank the hundreds of volunteers who helped my campaign by walking door to door, dropping literature, making phone calls, setting up events, manning the office, or simply spreading the word about my conservative, grassroots campaign.
Together, we knocked on over 30,000 doors leading up to about July 10 and between July 10 and August 3, we dropped literature on 41,000 doors. Those amazing efforts – only backed up at the very end with a television ad – earned us 26,276 votes, only losing by a few thousand, and winning more than twice of all the other candidates combined.
There are a number of special people I want to single out who played incredible roles with my campaign.
First and foremost is my family – particularly my husband David and my daughters Bella and Inna, who walked thousands of doors with me and put their own lives on hold for me during the past 14 months. But this also extends to my extended family – my mother, my sisters and brothers, and everyone else who provided that moral and spiritual support network to get through the tough times as well as the good times.
Second is my paid staff of one, Mike Pirner, my Campaign Director, who took on this job last August and guided this campaign through a number of different opponents, some who stayed in the race and some who didn’t, and took a campaign with little money and put us in a position where victory was in sight. He also designed and maintained my website, as he does for Tim Huelskamp and a number of other elected officials, candidates, and businesses. Special thanks also goes out to his wife, Michelle, who helped organize our massive door drop for our walkers to distribute. Mike & Michelle together walked a host of precincts for us as well.
Third is the “volunteer staff” of dozens, who put in the endless hours in blazing heat to cover this district on foot and in their cars, burning both pounds and gas. As one volunteer said, “who needs Jenny Craig when you’ve got Patricia Lightner?” The reason they did so was because they believed in me and my conservative message and I will never forget that. Special thanks go out to:
Cindy Daugherty, a Republican Precinct Committeewoman and her husband John Daugherty, a Republican Precinct Committeeman. Cindy is a disabled veteran from the Desert Shield/Storm. Together, they knocked on well over 3,500 doors and provided tremendous logistical and organizational support for my campaign in the most critical stages of the campaign.
Mary Ann Brennan, a long time conservative activist who served as my volunteer scheduler and herself walked several precincts, put out dozens of yard signs and attended a host of events with me.
Bill Boillot and his grandkids, who together walked the entire city of Gardner, as well as Spring Hill, Edgerton, and a host of other precincts throughout the 3rd District. Bill’s “Urban Assault Vehicle” (his minivan) was a key weapon in our grassroots door-drop campaign.
Jim Meyer, a tea party leader and activist who joined my campaign in March and wrote beautiful articles discussing my campaign and how it was important for conservatives to unify behind my candidacy. Jim also walked a number of precincts for us.
Lowell Jordan, a long time and well known conservative precinct committeeman in Olathe, who served as my volunteer coordinator and made hundreds of phone calls for my campaign.
Lani Kirsch, a tea party activist in Overland Park who walked several precincts, made dozens of phone calls and was always available to help out in a parade or a critical event.
Ed Reinhart, who by himself walked several precincts in Wyandotte County and half of the city of Prairie Village, earning me thousands of votes on Tuesday.
The list of volunteers and supporters like the above people go on and on. While a defeat is difficult, I am inspired by their trust in me and belief in my candidacy. I just wish I had space to list you all.
I also want to thank those who endorsed my candidacy, first and foremost Senator Mary Pilcher Cook, the first conservative leader to step out in front last November and support my candidacy, as well as noted author and editor Jack Cashill. Of course, Kansans for Life and Concerned Women PAC were instrumental in getting me as high as I did. I also want to thank my campaign Chairman, Rep. Eric Carter, as well as Reps. Rob Olson, Ben Hodge, Owen Donohoe, Rep. Judy Morrison and others who supported my campaign so enthusiastically this summer.
Finally, I want to thank my national consultant and pollster, Kellyanne Conway and the staff at her firm, the polling company, inc/WomenTrend, particularly Karen Steward, former Chair of the KU College Republicans, who joined with my campaign last December and were with me every step of the way.
In closing, it is often tempting for candidates who do not prevail, as well as their supporters, to retreat in disappointment after a tough loss. I do not want my supporters nor my volunteers to do this. Instead, use the inspiration from my campaign to support other pro-life, Constitutional conservative candidates on the ballot this fall and beyond. Or perhaps even run yourself, some day.
I specifically recommend John Rubin for State Representative (District 18), Kelly Meigs for State Representative (District 17), Brett Hildabrand for State Representative (District 23) and Jason Osterhaus for County Commission – all whom are trying to capture new seats for the conservative movement, but there are many other candidates worthy of your support as well. I personally will be fighting for many of them.
From my family to all of you who supported me – take some time off, spend time with your family, and get some rest – but be prepared to work this fall and beyond. Our country is at stake.
God bless you all and thank you again for your support and prayers these past 14 months. I will never forget it.
All the best,
Patricia Lightner
