Dear Friends:

I am humbled and honored to have been my party’s nominee for the United States Senate for New Jersey. I want to thank you for all you have done to help make this possible and for your steadfast support.
 
While we have come up short, I will forever be proud of our campaign and believe we can all hold our heads high. More than 1.2 million people voted for me and I am grateful for their confidence.
 
We ran an issue-oriented campaign that contrasted my vision with that of Bob Mendendez. Though some in the press were disappointed we did not get personal, those of you who received our communications know we consistently drove our significant differences on jobs, the economy and other issues including his record and how our visions for the future of our country are drastically different – more of the same versus a new and better way. 
 
Our campaign endured some bad breaks. Hurricane Sandy brought devastation to our state, rightfully took attention away from the election and contributed to a record low turnout for a presidential year. This was particularly pronounced in strong Republican areas and no doubt contributed to Governor Romney’s wider than expected loss in the state.
 
But Bob Menendez beat us and I congratulate him and wish him the best. 
 
As Susan and I have always said, our campaign was never about me.  Our campaign was always about what type of country, what type of future, we will leave to our children.  Our campaign was always about whether we would continue to be a country where anyone can get ahead through merit and hard work; whether we would be a country that would preserve the American Dream; whether we would be a country that had jobs and opportunity for all.  
 
I was always going to be a Senator one way or another and I will continue fighting for those beliefs and work hard to help rebuild our state and make New Jersey and America stronger, as a member of the State Senate. 
 
Many thanks to my close friend Governor Chris Christie, my colleagues in the Legislature, our committed county chairmen, our nearly 8,000 donors, and the hundreds of volunteers who helped us along the way.
 
I have no regrets; I wanted to offer a chance for people to vote for me, and for a different and better way.  And I loved every minute of the campaign.
 
Again, on behalf of the entire Kyrillos family, thank you for what you have done for me and for what you will continue to do for our state and our country.  May God bless you, our great state, and may God continue to bless the United States of America.

With best wishes,

Sincerely,

Joe Kyrillos