John Rose conceded the Tennessee gubernatorial primary race Thursday night, pledging his support to the Republican nominee following a campaign that spanned over 500 days.
Rose said he contacted Marsha Blackburn to offer his congratulations and commit his backing for the general election in November. Rose said that while the results did not favor his campaign, he remains grateful for the opportunity to have connected with citizens across all 95 counties in the state.
“I made a call to her just a few moments ago,” Rose said, “To congratulate her and to pledge that as a Republican, I’ll be supporting the Republican nominee in the general election coming up in November and in between now and then.”
Rose said the experience of the campaign allowed him to gain a deeper appreciation for the state through the people who opened their homes and churches to his family. Rose said he also wanted to recognize the efforts of Monty Fritz for his work during the primary cycle.
“Tonight will be on my mind for a long time to come,” Rose said. “It won’t be due to things I’ve lost, but I’ll be thinking about the things that I’ve gained.”
The evening featured several local officials who celebrated their own primary victories in Putnam County. Putnam County Mayor Randy Porter said early voting totals showed him securing approximately 77 percent of the vote in his reelection bid.
“It’s been an honor to serve Putnam County as the county mayor,” Porter said. “I’m an old farm boy from Macon County. Never dreamed I’d be the county mayor being a farm boy from Macon County.”
Putnam County Sheriff Eddie Ferris also addressed the crowd to celebrate his reelection after 12 years in office. Ferris said his administration will continue to prioritize school safety and drug enforcement during his next four-year term.
“Tomorrow morning, the signs will come down, the campaign will be over for me, but the commitment to Putnam County will be staying the same,” Ferris said. “We’ll get back to work and do the things we know to do.”
U.S. Congressional candidate Van Hillary spoke regarding the importance of the Republican cause and his history working as Rose’s former chief of staff. Hillary said he entered the race due to concerns regarding the direction of the country and the protection of constitutional rights.
“Whether we all win or lose tonight, whether we all, you know, the cause is paramount and the cause goes on and we all have to be continued to be involved with that,” Hillary said. “We all believe in this country, we all believe in this state, we all believe in John Rose.”
Rose concluded the event by reflecting on the personal impact of the race on his family and his outlook on the future of the state.
“Life isn’t defined by how many times you get knocked down,” Rose said. “It’s defined by how many times you get back up.”
