Statement released by Nate McMurray:
Good afternoon,
Nearly all the votes have been counted and Chris Collins will be returning to Washington to represent the people of New York’s 27th Congressional District. After discussing the matter thoroughly with counsel and weighing our options, we believe it’s in the best interest of this community to end this chapter and move on to the next.
I offer Mr. Collins my concession.
It was a hard decision. Part of me wants to fight. I can’t just smile and pretend this was all fair. And so my concession comes with a warning. Mr. Collins, you won by the slimmest of margins (less than half a percent), in a district designed to ensure anyone with an “R” next to their name, even an indicted criminal, could win a decisive victory.
Still, you almost lost. To win you had to resort to extreme measures—lying about me and my family, hiding from the media and the people you represent, and refusing to face me in the time-honored tradition of a public debate. Your strategy was by your own admission cowardice and partisan politics.
So I will be watching. We will all be watching. We are not going anywhere.
Together, with countless supporters across this district and throughout the country, we built something special. We ignored the naysayers and fought like hell for what we believed in.
We learned that at the grassroots level, the people have the power to break the political machine when we work together. We had the largest partisan swing of any first-time state or federal candidate in the country and one of the largest swings period. Together we set the foundation for incredible things to come.
We built this movement from the ground up via potlucks and picnics. I’m proud that we did this with little to no outside support. We raised over $1.2M in primarily grassroots donations in just over 3 months. Our campaign funds came from mechanics and farmers, school teachers, office workers, students, and senior citizens. There are few feelings more humbling than to have someone squeeze your hand at a campaign appearance, and tell you, “I just donated five dollars to your election. It’s all I can afford.”
For the first time in a very long time, the people of the 27th District felt that their voice was heard and that their vote mattered. My heart will not permit me to abandon those wonderful people.
So today, I am proudly announcing that I am forming an organization called Fight Like Hell. Fight Like Hell will be a voice for those thousands of Western New Yorkers who feel excluded, disenfranchised, and apathetic -- those who continue to reach out and ask what they can do, what’s next.
We want to take what we’ve learned and the tools and resources we’ve gathered and pay them forward by empowering more good people to run for office. I want more people to understand who their local leaders are (and how they can hold them accountable). Among other things, we will host Town Halls where residents will have a chance to share their voice, whether or not your Congressman thinks it’s important for you to do so or continues to hide
Beyond that. Mr. Collins' future in Washington remains murky. He says that he will finish his term, but as we know, Mr. Collins is not the best at keeping promises. Let me say it here first: when the time is right, I will run for office again.
I have met a lot of disappointed people since the election. I have felt a great deal of sadness. But be of good cheer. We are not what Mr. Collins represents. And we are not what the opportunistic politicians and pundits who supported him represent.
We ARE what those thousands of folks who stood up to him by standing on corners, writing postcards, and knocking doors in the cold represent. We ARE are what those Republicans who took a chance on a lanky Democrat represent. We ARE what the folks who are already gearing up for the next fight represent. Indeed, we ARE what America represents. We are hope, we are kindness, we are decency, and integrity.
Sure, we lost. But if we lost with integrity and fighting for Unions, the middle class, and healthcare for every American, so be it.
Stay strong. Protect it from the wind. But let that light glow.
With love, gratitude, and joy,
Nate
McMurray conceded because he
McMurray conceded because he lost, it happens in every election.
Most people who lose concede once with class and dignity-most people.
Not Nate McMurray, he withdrew his concession, and in the following weeks loudly claimed extensive irregularities in the voting process, and especially about absentee ballots.
He didn’t provide times or dates. He didn’t provide specific polling places or election officials. Nate just conceded again, despite his claims of extensive irregularities?
From the beginning of his election to the end, he insulted those who voted for Chris Collins, and again in this concession speech. Remember Hillary’s deplorable?
For all his flowery words of self-congratulations and claiming the moral high ground, “Cry baby cry. Stick your finger in your eye, and go tell your mommy, it was not I.”
Maybe if he runs again, he'll
Maybe if he runs again, he'll run ads stating what he's done/ accomplished(if anything) for Grand Island, he'd probably win. Some people don't give 2 sh*ts if you're a "good guy", as we find out most politicians are weasels to the core.
The truth of the situation is
The truth of the situation is that just in the previous election we deserved better options. Most of us didn't want to re-elect an incumbent with a questionable history but we also didn't want another Cuomo puppet. Just as in the last presidential election we didn't vote for a candidate........we voted against the other candidate. When will this system learn? "Fight Like Hell" you say.........."WE DESERVE BETTER" I say!!
Rich - he conceded because,
Rich - he conceded because, after following all the legal avenues he had available to ensure that all votes were counted, Collins had more votes.
As to his claims of vote irregularities... if he had no proof, the that is deplorable. I mean, can you imagine anybody doing anything as deplorable as trying to discredit the validity of our voting process without any proof? Can you imagine a pussy-grabbing con-man getting on stage and declaring millions of fraudulent votes with absolutely NO proof (even after being declared winner), or following that declaration a couple years later with another deplorable declaration of fraud in chorus with a deplorable Senator and Senate candidate (who was also a con-man)? Can you imagine anything so deplorable?
I guess Hillary's descriptive word is accurate in some cases... and that is something I find deplorable.
Tim...why are the liberals
Tim...why are the liberals always the ones yelling voter fraud and racism? Get over the 2016 election and focus on all the positive things Trump has done. I am proud to be a deplorable and a christian and , yes, I shop at Walmart. All the things the liberals find disgusting.
I'm a bit confused. Nate
I'm a bit confused. Nate McMurray conceded then un-conceded because there were approximately 18,000 absentee ballots that hadn't been counted. Chris Collins was quick to declare victory with a 3000 vote lead, even though there were 18,000 uncounted votes. If Nate hadn't changed his mind would they have bothered to count those votes or would 18,000 people have voted for nothing? Why are we worried about the Russians? We can screw up our elections all by ourselves.
".why are the liberals always
".why are the liberals always the ones yelling voter fraud and racism?"
WHAT WORLD HAVE YOU BEEN LIVING IN?!?
Google "trump voter fraud accusations", then peruse the 12.9 MILLION RESULTS
Dang - I need some aspirin now...
(link removed at Howard’s request)
I guess it was the Russians
I guess it was the Russians fault Tim. 2 years and still no evidence. But it's ok for illegal aliens to vote in your world, isn't it?
You are not arguing with an
You are not arguing with an idiot but with an intelligent woman who has taught history since 1971 and does independent thinking and research to back her opinions. Were you one of the ones selling democrat votes for money and cigarettes in skid row, or using dead people's names on fraudulent ballots ? I am not even a republican but I know one sided ignorance when I see it. Is it because I am a woman that you think I Am an idiot? I would gladly debate you at any time.
Mr Miller. Your cartoons of
Mr Miller. Your cartoons of me being stupid and off my mark are typical of a dolt who does not know how to debate an issue intellectually. It was especially poignant today as my brother died suddenly this morming. You libs really have no heart. I Watched the Kavanaugh hearings . don't you feel any shame?
Wow Candice! You Go Girl!!
Wow Candice! You Go Girl!!
WE NEED CANDACE BOWER FOR
WE NEED CANDACE BOWER FOR GOVERNOR!!
Candace - My "enjoy your life
Candace - My "enjoy your life" comment was intended to be a final word to you - with my having absolutely nothing more to do with somebody who lives in such an tiny, insulated bubble.... but then you questioned "Is it because I am a woman that you think I Am an idiot?"
Please understand - any opinion I have of you has nothing to do with your gender. Shoot - if I were to ever imply a person was an idiot because they were a woman my sisters, very intelligent and successful people, would smack down that line of thought quicker than you could come up with another bizarre statement.
That being said - Enjoy your life.
talk about bizarre?? This
talk about bizarre?? This women has FORGOT more than some Bullies will Ever Know!!
ha ha tom tom I forgot who
ha ha tom tom I forgot who you were. hey there is a rapist out there looking for a place in your swamp, go find him big shot..... bahahaha
Have a nice day dave.
Have a nice day dave.
A little new information
A little new information regarding fraudulent votes:
Watch "HUGE Victory in CA--L.A. County Agrees to Remove up to 1.5 Million Inactive Voters from Voter Rolls" on YouTube
https://youtu.be/SQ3X8VkrjaA
This is LA County alone. Many more voter rolls to straighten out.