Democrat Will Rollins conceded to Rep. Ken Calvert Wednesday after the Corona Republican increased his lead to 8,123 votes in the 41st Congressional District.
“I’m going to be honest, losing sucks, especially after campaigning back to back for nearly three years, but I will never regret running,” Rollins said in a video released on social media Wednesday. Rollins lost to Calvert, 52.3%-47.7% in 2022.
“Way too many of us sit on the couch and complain about politics or the way campaigns are run, without ever getting off the sidelines and actually stepping into the arena ourselves. And I get it, that was me until I was 37 years old. That’s why I am so proud to have been in the fight with you, the people who supported this campaign, because win or lose, you know that the work is never really done in America.”
Calvert leads 161,202-153,079, 51.3%-48.7%.
Decision Desk HQ declared Calvert as the winner in his bid for a 17th term at 5:47 p.m. Pacific Standard Time Monday.
Calvert issued a statement Monday saying, “I’m honored that Riverside County voters have once again placed their trust in me to continue delivering results for them in Washington.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, posted a congratulatory message on X for Calvert Wednesday. The National Republican Congressional Committee, the House Republicans’ campaign arm, issued a statement congratulating him, and saying Calvert “will continue delivering proven results for families in Riverside County, from working to lower inflation to keeping their neighborhoods safe and secure.”