I was never one who sought to hold elected office to demagogue or point fingers. For me, public service has always been about putting the needs of our state and our people first, and every single day, as your servant, I have tried to do exactly that. Frankly, for me it’s always been that simple. I haven’t supported an idea because it’s a Republican idea or a Democratic idea. I support ideas that I think are good ideas, for the people. For the people. And I’ve always found that that’s exactly what the people believe, too.

They’ve had enough of political fighting; they’re tired of the game of name calling and the politics of destruction; and my friends I know they want progress and not gridlock; they are tired of things not getting done for them, for you. They want someone that’s more concerned about standing up for them than standing up for special interest or party.

They look at Washington and they don’t like what they see. They don’t like what they see from politicians, they don’t like what they see from bureaucrats, they don’t like what they see from the gridlock. They have a hope, and they have a concern, and they have a desire to elect people that represent them, that represent you, and fight for you first every single day. That’s why I’m running for the United States Senate; that’s why I’m running for this office: for you.

Frankly, for me the easiest thing I could have done was to run for re-election as governor. But for me it’s never been about doing what’s easy. It’s been about doing what’s right for the people first. And my friends, you know I’ve made some tough decisions as your governor, and they all haven’t been popular, but I’ve done them because I think they’re what’s right for the people and right for our state. Whether it’s off shore drilling – and stopping it, whether it’s fighting for our teachers and our children in education, or expanding our hours for people to be able to vote back in 2008, whatever the issue might be.

Some didn’t like that. But I believe in democracy and that the people have the right to choose, always. Now I could’ve chosen to stay in the primary. But frankly for me, it’s your decision. It’s not one club’s decision, or another, or even a club within that club. It is a decision too important. It is a decision for all the people of Florida to be able to make. That is why we go straight to November. We give you the chance to make that decision. It’s your decision to make. Now, I know this is unchartered territory. I am aware of that. And I am aware that after this speech ends, I don’t have either party helping me. I need you. I need you, the people, more than ever. And I guarantee you, I am counting on you, I am counting on you, and I believe in you. And you can believe in me. And I’ll be with you forever, forever.

I think we need a new tone in Washington. I love my country. I love the fact that we are the land of the free and home of the brave. And that we have principles that are supposed to be stood for. And at the end of the day, we can agree to disagree without being disagreeable. Our country is better than what we see up there. I know it in my heart. I feel it in my soul. I prayed to my God about this. More than I usually talk to the Father. And I can tell you from the bottom of my heart, I know we’re doing the right thing. It’s the right thing for America. It’s the right thing for Florida. It’s the right thing for the people.