This seat belongs to the voters, and I am humbled that they entrusted me with its care for two more years. Serving my family, friends and neighbors in Northwest Washington, where I was born and raised, is a great privilege - one I do not take lightly.

Because of you, I will have the opportunity to continue protecting and building upon the successes of the current Congress: to lower prescription drug costs for seniors and deliver lower copays for seniors using insulin; to protect Social Security and Medicare; to fund law enforcement and expect accountability; to fight climate change; and to ensure the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law helps us build a cleaner and greener transportation system for everyone.

But before I get to work, I want to pause and thank everyone who made this campaign a truly grassroots effort.

To all of my supporters: a heart-felt thanks for making calls and doorbelling all year. As always, you are the heartbeat of the campaign.

To the campaign staff and interns out each day rain or shine, in the heat and the cold, thank you for all you do.

Thank you to my spouse, Tiia, for her support, for putting in a few miles herself at the doors, and for her vote. Thank you.

This success would not be possible without all these hardworking, dedicated people, all of whom do not get enough praise or appreciation for what they do.

And although we are celebrating the success of our grassroots campaign, it is evident by the results unfolding across the country that there is a lot of work to do to protect the progress we have achieved in Congress and for democracy itself.

We now turn to the hard work: of denying the election deniers any oxygen for their twisted conspiracies; of showing how big of a lie the Big Lie is; and of continuing the fight for voting rights throughout our country.

It looks like we have our work cut out for us, but no party will deny the people their democracy. Ever.

Rick