6 Awkward Ways to Say ‘I Lost’ the Election

There are a million different ways to say, “I lost.”

ByABC News
November 8, 2014, 6:33 AM

— -- There are a million different ways to say, “I lost.” You may choose to give a concession speech where you gracefully concede to your other opponent -– or you could just do what these losing candidates did.

THE “WHAT OPPONENT?” SPEECH.

Alison Lundergan Grimes (D-KY)

The Senate candidate said a lot in her concession speech – minus that she was conceding to Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell. Her concession speech sounded more like an early stump speech that highlighted the commonwealth’s needs and the efforts of a grassroots organization.

“My hope is the message has been sent to Congress. That we need to work to increase the minimum wage, to close the gender pay gap and to bring good paying jobs back to the Commonwealth of Kentucky. This journey, this fight was for each and every one of you.”

THE “HOW TO CONCEDE WITHOUT REALLY CONCEDING” SPEECH.

Greg Orman (I-KS)

Orman didn’t acknowledge his loss Sen. Pat Roberts, because to him, his campaign proved that the independents still won (even though they didn’t).

“While Sen. Roberts won tonight, we didn’t lose… We believed that there was a chance that we would fundamentally change Washington and I believe we did… We sent a message to other aspiring independents out there – that this can be done.”

THE “NOT ASHAMED TO CRY ON STAGE” SPEECH.

Wendy Davis (D-TX)

It’s rare to see a candidate to cry on stage when they concede. But Wendy Davis didn’t fight back the tears as she conceded to Greg Abbott and thanked her volunteers.

“Please, please know this -– your work is not in vain.”

THE “THIS ISN’T MY FIRST RODEO” SPEECH.

Clay Aiken (D-NC)

The Democrat and American Idol alum noted that this Congressional race wasn’t the first election he’s lost.

“The result did not go the way we wanted it to tonight, but we’ve walked down this path once or twice before. About 11 years ago after American Idol we came up short in another vote, we found reason to be happy.”

THE “IT’S OKAY TO BE DISAPPOINTED” SPEECH.

Bruce Braley (D-IA)

After losing to Joni Ersnt, Braley said we live in a country where we have the freedom to vote in an election. He also said we have the freedom to be disappointed in the outcome of an election – but that is not exactly how it came out.

“We have the freedom to be disappointed in America.”

THE “THIS SOUNDS FAMILIAR” SPEECH.

Scott Brown (R-NH)

In 2012, Scott Brown ran for Senate in Massachusetts and lost.

His concession speeches were oddly familiar.