Collins concedes U.S. Senate race after fast AP call

And they've been with me every step of the way and everything that I have done. And also, I've followed in the footsteps of a great man who also took his experience in the private sector to public life and served his state and country in Congress. And it's been amazing how many people that I've met on this journey that he also touched. And that they also have their own Matt Collins story. So that's how I knew that I could take that same experience, y'all, in the same industry and go to Washington and deliver results and be productive and put our state first. It's because I'd already watched a great man do that. And on that note, y'all, I'm happy to say that we've succeeded, whether that be the TRUMP Act to get drugs off our streets, taking care of the Port of Savannah and Brunswick and Augusta's Water or the Lake and Riley Act, or y'all, just anything in between. And it wasn't just my dad out there, y'all. It was my mom. She was always with him. And it has been a big part in all our lives. You know, she often looks at the pictures of us out there on the road and she tells me, Mike, you're always so happy and you're always smiling and you look like you're always just having a good time. And y'all, that's because of you. It's because of my supporters. I mean, obviously, I'm not the type of person that smiles all the time. I mean, my staff knows that. But y'all, when I get out of that truck and get in a crowd. Y'all give me the fuel. Y'all give me the fuel to keep going. And seeing y'all in the fight, it's just the magic that's allowed me to keep on trucking out there. Now, y'all have heard me say it time and time again out there. The good Lord put me on this earth to work, and I absolutely love it. I love running hard, and it's been amazing that the Lord has surrounded me with a team that would probably try to outwork me if I gave them the chance. I mean, they work as hard as I do, and they absolutely love it. And they know the mission, and I couldn't have done this without my team. So thank you. Thank you. Now, folks, when I first ran for Congress, I told you I was running for several reasons. I wanted to make sure that we back our veterans, support our men and women in blue, because, y'all, I was so sick and tired of hearing people say, defund the police. I just couldn't stand it. I also went up there because I know that the upcoming generation just doesn't have the same opportunities that I had. I mean, y'all, I built my first house at 22 and started my first business at 24, and they just don't have those opportunities today. And we've got to get taxes and regulations under control. Make sure that illegal immigrants are sent home. And make sure that young people can chase their version of the American dream. Y'all, tonight, I'm happy to report that we have delivered on those fronts. And I want you to know something else, too. Y'all, it's been an honor, an honor and a privilege to serve under the leadership of the best president in my lifetime. That is President Donald J. Trump. And it's also been an honor and a privilege to serve the 10th District of Georgia. Now, you know, the results may not be what we wanted tonight, but y'all, that's okay. I'm going to continue to serve in whatever capacity I'm afforded. And I look forward to whatever the good Lord has in store for us. Listen, I want to thank everybody out there. Thank you. I felt them. I thank you for your prayers, for your comfort, your support, and your time. God bless you and God bless Georgia. Thank you. Representative Mike Collins, the Republican U.S. Senate candidate, talking about the hard-fought campaign to take that seat from incumbent Senator John Ossoff, who the Associated Press called within the hour of the polls closing here in the state of Georgia at about 7.58 this evening, Ossoff winning re-election. It was an uphill battle for Mike Collins. Ossoff was ahead in the polls since the early days of this campaign. He was fighting against this presumed blue wave that is currently sweeping the nation tonight. And he was out-fundraised, certainly, by the Ossoff campaign, which brought in tens of millions of dollars to ensure that Ossoff won reelection.