Earlier this month, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) secured his reelection bid by winning the Kentucky Republican primary in remarkably convincing fashion. Kentucky businessman Matt Bevin was McConnell’s main opponent, and throughout his campaign Glenn was continually impressed with Bevin. On radio this morning, a surprisingly optimistic Bevin joined Glenn to discuss his loss and what comes next.
While both Glenn and Bevin hoped to be having this morning’s discussion under different circumstances, the men agreed the campaign was far fro meaningless.
“I know you are a God-fearing man, and so I am I. I know what I felt, and I know you know what you felt, and our God is not a God of frustration. He's not a God to be thwarted,” Glenn said. “What do you take away from this? What do you think this exercise was for? Because it wasn't meaningless. What happened?”
“Not even a little meaningless. This is the thing I take from this: From the very beginning, Glenn, it was clear to me this was something I was obedient to – a path that neither my wife nor I ever sought. It wasn't something that I had aspired to, and yet every door continued to open and things unfolded in ways that were beyond our ability to even comprehend at times,” Bevin explained. “And so in our effort to do to the best of our ability that which was laid before us, we found ourselves on an incredible journey. What we have seen come from this is an awakening of people, an inspiring of young people in particular, in ways that would not have been there. There's a ripple effect to history that we all know.”
One of the most inspiring moments of the whole campaign was the election night gathering organized by his campaign. Bevin explained he delivered his concession speech before a diverse group of Americans who truly care about the future of this country.
“The people that were in that room were the demographic of everything the GOP says that it wants to be and needs to be. We had older people, younger, black, white, Hispanic, poor, rich folks – the entire gamut of the socioeconomic spectrum in this country – not because we had focus groups, not because there had been outreach committees or a strategy session to reach these people. Every one of those folks was there of their own volition. They were drawn to this because of the integrity of it, the reality of it, the message of it. This is what gives me hope.”
Bevin explained that he is not sure what the future holds for him politically, but Glenn felt the urge to make Bevin an offer.
“I had no intention of saying that to you until you were on the phone, [but] I would like to ask if you wanted to provide commentary or anything or TheBlaze,” Glenn said. “I think you are a voice that needs to be heard. You just think about that and get back to me.”
“As I'm sure you find the same thing to be the case, people have 1,000 ideas of things you should do with your life. I'm very gracious of them… so I'm at this point listening,” Bevin said. “There's Psalm 46:10. ‘Be still, and know I am God.’ At this point, to the degree I can with nine children and a campaign to button up, I'm being as still as I can – listening, trying to understand what it is I should do, what it is I could do, in order to make the most advantageous next steps.”