Koster calls, congratulates Larsen

Published 2:09 pm Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Republican John Koster phoned U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen this morning and congratulated his fellow Arlington native on winning their contest for Congress.

While it was clear Larsen had won the race several days ago, Koster had not conceded and his campaign manager said they were examining the tallying of votes in the six counties that make up the 2nd District.

Today’s action erases any doubts the Snohomish County Councilman might mount a challenge to the results.

Koster later posted a statement on his campaign web site under the headline, “Our cause prevailed across America on November 2nd.”

In it he writes:

While being on the losing end of a hard fought battle is tough and certainly not where I wanted to be, it was a truly amazing and exhilarating campaign! The fact that we were able to win the hearts of so many people on the real issues of the campaign and to compete with and nearly defeat a well financed and entrenched incumbent (in one of the toughest media climates for conservatives in the nation) is a major accomplishment in itself — and something we can and should build on as we prepare for 2012.

Please know that I will be forever grateful to those of you whose blood, sweat and tears made the 2010 Koster for Congress campaign such a powerhouse. I want to encourage every one of you that helped our campaign to keep fighting the good fight. While our efforts fell just short of victory this year, it is our cause and ideals that prevailed all across America on November 2nd!”

Brooke Davis, Larsen’s campaign manager, said this afternoon that Larsen and Koster had a “very gracious and very cordial conversation.”

“They both agreed they would put politics and policy differences aside and continue to work together” to represent constituents that they serve, she said.