November 2, 2010 – Salt Lake City, Utah – Utahns have elected conservative Republican candidate Mike Lee to the United States Senate.  The first time candidate won with a significant majority, garnering 63% of the vote.

In his acceptance speech Lee thanked the grass-roots support system which carried him from a head-turning convention win to the Republican primary and on through the general election.  He then shifted to the principles and governing philosophy he based his campaign on and recommitted to keeping his promises.

 Lee also outlined a familiar path from the past, which seemingly parallels current conditions in the country.  He called it “Boston to Philadelphia - Leading America from protesting the government we don’t want to creating the one we do.”  Lee outlined the similarities between the founders path from their tea party protest in Boston – which was a protest against the type of government they didn’t want to Philadelphia – where they created the Constitution, the governing document which provided the framework for the type of government they wanted.

Lee stated, “I am overwhelmed by the support of Utahns from around the State of Utah and I will fight for them every day in the Senate.”  Then concluded, “There is much to be done and I look forward to working with a coalition of limited-government senators to reduce the size and cost of the federal government.  Limited government, fiscal discipline and energy independence is the only way to jump-start the economy, create real jobs and restore America’s prosperity.  I am ready to get to work on the people’s business.”

 Below is the prepared text for Senator-Elect Lee’s acceptance speech:

 First let me say congratulations and thanks to Sam Granato and his campaign for the race they ran.  Sam and I spoke on the phone a few minutes ago and I thanked him for his friendship and wished him well as he continues to make a difference in his business and the community.

 Let me also at the outset thank Senator Bob Bennett for his 18 years of service to Utah and to our country.

 I am most thankful to the citizens of Utah who have welcomed me into their homes, schools and communities.  I have listened and learned, I have heard and understood and have been blessed by traveling through this state – my family and I are overwhelmed by your generosity and support.

 I will speak more to our incredible volunteers and staff a little later.  Let me just say – they represent the great untold story of this campaign.  As I have often said this campaign has never been about any one person, but rather a set of common ideas and proven principles.  It has been truly inspiring to observe the ability of my campaign staff and volunteers to rally support around a very imperfect candidate, and organize and motivate people to accomplish the difficult.  We were a bit of a motley crew of novices who began this race being told what we were attempting to do was impossible.  Well, impossible turned to improbable as the grassroots began to grow.  Improbable became just unlikely – but finally this group became absolutely unstoppable.  I am grateful to you all.

 I also thank my family and dear friends, many of whom are on the stage tonight – as they should be – for they have sacrificed much to work on this campaign and have given up weekends, weekdays, sleep and maybe even some sanity for the sake of the campaign.  Special thanks to my wife Sharon, John, James and Eliza.  I am a most grateful husband and father.

 I got into this race because the federal government is too big and too expensive.  I intend now, as your Senator, to govern with that philosophy.  I am committed to reducing the size, cost and reach of the federal government so that Utahns can do what they do best: earn a living, raise their families and create the future they desire.

 2010 has been a different kind of election year.  It began with a Tea-party like moment when an estimated 80,000 Utahns came out to precinct caucuses – a record-shattering demonstration of voter intensity.  Our caucuses were reminiscent of Tea Party gatherings around the state and across the nation.  Those gatherings were in turn reminiscent of the original Boston Tea Party.  This year, as in 1773, people were protesting against a national government that was too big and too distant, too quick to tax, too eager to spend, too slow to respond and too reluctant to respect local self-government.  We the people have recognized, as the founders did, the type of national government we don’t want.  But it isn’t enough to protest against what we don’t want, we must be willing to fight for what we do want!

For the founders that process took 14 years to complete, leading ultimately to Philadelphia in the summer of 1787, when the founders established the Constitution, outlining the type of national government they wanted.  It was during that 14-year journey—from Boston to Philadelphia—that Americans went from expressing what they did not want from their national government to outlining what they didwant. 

 From their own experience, the founders knew that any national government would have some tendency toward tyranny unless its powers were carefully held in check.  This remains true regardless of whether the national government in question is headed by a king on the one hand, an elected president on the other hand, or even—as we have discovered in recent months—by an elected president who thinks he’s a king.  For that very reason, they created a limited-purpose federal government—one tasked with only a few distinctively national responsibilities such as national defense and immigration—while reserving all other powers to the States. 

 We have strayed far from that understanding in recent years, often assuming that any big problem must be addressed with a big-government solution at the national level.  This year, American voters have rejected that assumption.  In so doing they have agreed with Ronald Reagan that the federal government isn’t the solution to our problems, the federal government is the problem. 

 Tonight we are watching a great turning of the tide in Washington as the people speak by way of the ballot.  The results are still coming in, and more change is on the way.  With tonight’s results voters in Utah and across America are sending people like me to Washington with significant victories, clear mandates and renewed trust that we will stand for these bedrock principles upon which our nation was built.  America is awake and watching.  And to both the naysayers of this movement and to its supporters I have one thing to say:  watch what’s next!

 I’ll tell you what’s next.  Balancing the budget will work.  Reigning in spending will work.  Reforming earmarks will work.  Achieving energy independence will work. Sending a new group of limited government senators back to Washington will work.  And all these will put America back to work!  Those of us who have been elected with this mandate are willing to be honest with the people and tackle difficult issues. We have already added to that coalition tonight with Marco Rubio, Rand Paul, and Pat Toomey and more will be added to that list before this night is through.  America:  watch what’s next. 

 Together we must have crucial conversations and frank dialogue about our future and the type of government we want for our children and grandchildren.  As your Senator I will invite your voice, your insight and your involvement in this process.

 I invite every freedom-loving citizen to help America advance from Boston to Philadelphia—from protesting against the kind of government we don’t want at the national level to creating the kind of limited-purpose federal government we do want. 

The idea of constitutionally limited government at the national level is neither Republican nor Democratic; it is neither conservative nor liberal.  It is simply American. Together we can, we must and we will reduce the size and cost of the federal government and return it to the people.  So watch what’s next:  it is, once again, morning in America. 

 Let tonight simply mark the beginning – for together we have much to do to jumpstart this economy, balance the budget, create real jobs, and return this country to greatness.  As your Senator I will work tirelessly, every day, to fight for the values we hold dear.  I will follow the words of the poet who wrote, “I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep.”  This journey must continue – I invite all of you to come along and join me this cause.  And together we will create what’s next!  

 May God bless the soveirn State of Utah and may God bless the United States of America…