It was a night almost four years in the making.

In February 2007, Representative Mike Hubbard came to me with a plan, Campaign 2010, an unprecedented effort to raise resources, recruit quality candidates and target specific districts with the goal of gaining a majority in the state legislature for the first time since 1874. 

At that time, I knew with the energy of our volunteers, the exceptional nature of our candidates, the financial commitments of our contributors, the talents of our staff and the leadership and vision of Chairman Mike Hubbard and Senator Del Marsh, that it absolutely COULD be done.  These two men worked tirelessly to achieve this majority.

But, no one, including me, could have predicted what we accomplished last night. TOGETHER.  

BOTH houses of the Alabama legislature, ending 136 years of Democrat control. 

62 in the House and 22 in the Senate—beating many entrenched incumbents who were thought to be invincible. 

EVERY statewide office, from the Governor’s office down the ballot. 

Two Republicans on their way to the House of Representatives in Washington, giving us 6 out of 7 congressional seats.

My friends, we didn’t create a Republican wave.  It was a Republican tsunami, covering every part of Alabama, from the courthouse to the statehouse to the United States Capitol. 

And it was only because of you.

Everyone believed in the same mission, the same goal, and we put our heart into the effort.  Everyone doing what they could to make it happen. 

Without every single person, without every piece of the puzzle that resulted in last night’s victory, I don’t believe it could have happened.

Whether you put out yard signs, contributed your resources, hosted an event, made phone calls, knocked on doors or helped with the thousand other tasks that add up to success, from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU.

Last night was historic.  Absolutely.  But, it was also generation-changing. We have an amazing opportunity to change the culture of Montgomery, in a way we never could before, in the very place where corruption has always been tolerated and even fostered.  Well, NO MORE!   We have an opportunity to improve the lives of families and children for decades with renewed economic development, revolutionary changes in education and less burdens on our families.  

Now, we can squander this chance as our predecessors did for over 100 years.  Or we can embrace it.  We can make the significant changes in this state that we have longed to see for too long.  And do so without delay. 

Ladies and Gentlemen, the people of Alabama have given us a mandate.  What we do with this opportunity WILL determine our future.  And I know ours will be one of dedication to Alabama, self-sacrifice and true public service.

Today, I believe Alabama has reached what President Reagan would call “our rendezvous with destiny”.

Now, let’s prove we are worthy of the challenge.  I have no doubt we will.

Once again, congratulations on a hard-fought, well-deserved victory!

Governor Bob Riley