Former Congressman Pete Hoekstra thanked his supporters in West Michigan before conceding defeat in the U.S. Senate race Tuesday night. The race between incumbent Senator Debbie Stabenow and Hoekstra was called early; before the presidential race.
Fans of the GOP at the Grand Rapids party were disappointed about Hoekstra's defeat, but still hopeful about Romney when he took the stage.
“As you have seen on the TV screens, we came up short tonight,” Hoekstra explained to the crowd of at least 300 people.
“I think that we we’re expecting we would do better, all right?” Hoekstra told reporters. “I think as we take a look at the results around the country tonight I think there’s a lot of Republicans at least in senate races who are wondering what happened. How did this happen? A lot of us thought that these senate races would be closer,” he added.
Hoekstra said he called Stabenow to congratulate her and to offer her his help – if she ever needed it.
“She and I have both crisscrossed the state. We’ve seen a lot of people who were hurting. A lot of people who want to go back to work. So if she thinks there’s a way I can help I just want to say ‘Hey Debbie, I’ll be there,'” Hoekstra said.
Hoekstra ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for Michigan Governor in 2010. Still, he says he would not rule out another bid for statewide office.
