Newly-elected Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) made no mention of her Republican opponent Karin Housley during her victory speech Tuesday night nor in her posts made on social media after the election.
Smith, who took over for Al Franken less than a year ago after his resignation, defeated Housley 53 percent to 42 percent.
After her loss, Housley thanked Smith and said that while the two “disagree on almost everything,” it is “time to come together and move forward for the good of the state we love.”
“Tonight, I called Sen. Tina Smith to congratulate her on her victory. I hoped for better circumstances, but sometimes God’s plans are different than our own,” Housley later wrote on Twitter, saying “the spirit of Minnesotans is strong.”
Tonight, I called Senator Tina Smith to congratulate her on her victory. I hoped for better circumstances, but sometimes God’s plans are different than our own. Now is a time to come together and move forward for the good of the state we love. 1/
— Karin Housley (@KarinHousley) November 7, 2018
“We have much work to continue together, and I’m so hopeful you’ll continue to join me for the ride. God bless Minnesota, and God bless America,” she added. Smith will finish out the remainder of Franken’s term, and will be up for reelection again in 2020, leaving another potential run open for Housley.
Smith made no mention of Housley after her victory, but did send a “special thanks” to “her friend and colleague, Amy Klobuchar,” who won her bid for a third term in the Senate by more than 20 points.
“Tonight we made history. Amy was the first woman to be elected senator from Minnesota, and tonight you have made it two. Minnesota is now one of four states represented by two women senators,” Smith said.
“You are tired of the games and the politics of blame. You are tired of our interests taking a backseat to special interests. And we are tired of the division and hate,” she continued to cheers from the audience. “This victory puts people back at the center of our politics.”
“When we started this effort only ten months ago I said that I should not be underestimated. Well, tonight we showed the country that Minnesota should not be underestimated,” Smith concluded her speech.
Smith then wrote about her victory on Twitter and again thanked all of her supporters who “worked to have a positive impact in this historic moment.”
“I promise I’ll continue working every single day to make sure your voice is heard in the Senate. Tonight your hopes were heard,” she said. “This win is for all of us.”
Jake Schneider, the Housley campaign’s communications director, later took to Twitter to express his disappointment with Smith.
Tina Smith did not thank, nor even acknowledge, her opponent in neither her victory speech nor her victory statement. Karin Housley thanked her opponent in both her concession speech & statement. That's class — and it's something the Democrats lack.
— Jake Schneider (@jacobkschneider) November 8, 2018
“Tina Smith did not thank, nor even acknowledge, her opponent in neither her victory speech nor her victory statement,” he said. “Karin Housley thanked her in both her concession speech and statement. That’s class—and it’s something the Democrats lack.”
The Minnesota Sun reached out to Smith’s office for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.
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Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun. Follow Anthony on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
