MANCHESTER, Tennessee – At about 9 p.m. Dr. Manny Sethi gave his concession speech to several hundred people just down the road from where he grew up in Coffee County, telling supporters three separate times to continue the fight.
With 15 people in the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Lamar Alexander, Sethi got about 240,000 votes or 40 percent of the vote against the winner Bill Hagerty with just over 300,000 votes or 50 percent.
Sethi had an impressive list of conservatives endorsing him, from U.S. Senators Ted Cruz and Rand Paul, each of whom came to Tennessee on at least two trips to stump for the candidate, to leaders within the state.
Among those at the election night watch event were Dr. Alan Keyes, former Congressman Zach Wamp, State Senator Janice Bowling, former Senator Mae Beavers, former State Representatives Joe Carr and Sheila Butt, State Representatives Jerry Sexton and Iris Rudder, as well as a number of Republican State Executive Committee members including Steve Allbrooks, Jerry Beavers, Lynne Davis, Terri Nicholson, Maryann Parks and Scott Smith and Pastor Dale Walker.
Sethi had an uphill battle with an early endorsement of Hagerty by President Trump, that was followed up by robo calls, tele town halls and endorsements by Trump’s son and Vice President Mike Pence.
With his mother, wife and two children by his side, Sethi congratulated Ambassador Hagerty on his win and then spoke direction to his supporters.
“The race is done now, but the conservative movement moves forward. I need each and every one of you today to continue the fight, to help the party. This fight’s not over.”
Sethi went on to thank his mother and “my best friend in the world,” his wife Maya. Sethi and his wife have been together since they were 16 years old.
“The Lord has a plan for each of us and you’ve got to walk in faith.”
“What we did in this campaign was we took the high road. We didn’t make attacks. We didn’t do any of that. And, I want you tonight, when you go home to feel proud, because look, no one ever thought we’d come this far.”
“We went 12 rounds,” Sethi continued after being interrupted with applause and cheers, “with the establishment folks, but we came up short.”
“But, I want you to know this. I love all of you,” which was met with, “We love you,” in return.
“I am so grateful to you all. And we will continue this fight. God bless you all. Thank you so much,” Sethi concluded as he waved to the crowd, his wife beaming beside him.
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Laura Baigert is a senior reporter at The Tennessee Star.
The write-in campaign has begun! We shall write-in Dr. Manny Sethi for U. S. Senate in the Republican General Election! Go Manny!
This isn’t a thing, nobody is going to chance a Democrat taking the Senate seat by throwing away a vote.
It’s really discouraging in Tennessee when you vote for & support true conservative candidates only to see them defeated in election after election by swamp establishment RINO’s. Of course, we’re used to disappointment living in demoncrat controlled Nashville where no Republican can ever get elected mayor!
I did my part and voted for Sethi. May God bless him and his family.
I will continue “the fight”. That means supporting ALL of the Bill of Rights for Everyone, special rights and privileges for NONE, demand that the government be restricted and obedient to its delegated powers and abide by “the equal protection of the laws” as stated by the chief wordsmith of the Constitution: “Congress can make no law which will not have its full operation on themselves and their friends, as well as on the great mass of the society.” — James Madison, The Federalist Papers, No. 57.
Silence, why have primaries then? Your view seems to be that us peasants should do what our masters tell us to do and be happy. If Trump wants X, you bow down and obey like a well trained dog.
No thanks. I will make my own decisions and xast my own votes. You can be a lackey all you want.
Thank your Dr. Sethi for fighting the establishment. Just like General George Washington, we will lose most of the battles, but we shall prevail. Haggerty is beholden to Lamar Alexander and Marsha Blackburn now. It is only a matter of time before he betrays President Trump like so many before him. When he does, we will remind him that he works for us, and not for the establishment.
Let Sethie and Haggerty tear each other apart.
William Delzell, don’t ya ever get tired of being the token libtard troll on this conservative site?
Trump picked Hagerty and Mannie said no. Senators McConnell, Blackburn, and Cotton asked Sethi not to run and Mannie said no.And Sethi said no because he is smarter and wiser than any of those 4 folks who have extensive experience in the field of politics. To my way of thinking, Mannie had too much “no” in him for people he should be listening to and asking advice. At 42 and being so young is there even the slightest chance he might run for a lessor position, like Congressman or State Rep/Senator like Tim Burchett and Marsha Blackburn? Then run for Senator after that stint when he is 50. Being an outsider does not mean you have to start at the top. But my biggest turn off with Manny was the rudeness of his supporters. Hagerty did his homework, obtained endorsements from the right folks (like Sean Hannity), and followed his leader, DJT. Take notes, Manny, for future campaigns.
There is no way that I’m going to vote for an establishment puke like Haggardly, It was a despicable campaign based on attacks. So congratulations Mr. Haggardly, you just won a vote for anyone but you – a write in vote only takes a moment or two more, fine.
And President Trump needs to think about this as well. Think you have it in the bag? You don’t, not by a long shot. You had Steve Bannon in your corner in 2016 – without him you would have been trounced. Now? You think your smug attitude will win the day? Don’t count on it.
Agree Ralph. Hagerty accused Dr. Manny of being a Romney Republican and millionaire when he was the one close to Romney and a millionaire himself!
Ralph, we can always vote for an Independent for Senate but please don’t vote against Trump. Think of the alternative. Joe Biden and whoever he picks as his running mate? We all know his VP will be the one pulling the strings, if not outright taking ol’ Joe’s place because he will be medically unfit for office. Trump isn’t perfect but he’s done far more good than bad. Forgive him. He’s only human.
Calm down Ralph.