Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito can add West Virgina’s first female state senator to her resume after Tuesday’s election. The unofficial polls showed Capito the victor with 63 percent of the vote.

Conrad Lucas, chairman for the Republican Party of West Virginia, kept his statements short and to the point.

“We could say a lot, but we have to sum it all up. We did it,” Lucas said.

Capito was all smiles as the numbers began to come in. She said she was humbled by the support of West Virginia during the campaign.

“For the first time in the history of West Virginia, we are sending a woman to the United States Senate,” Capito said. “I’m excited to be that United States senator. It is impossible for me to convey gratitude and how humbled I am by your confidence. I hope that I live up to your highest standards.”

In her speech, Capito said she was excited to be the new voice for West Virginians.

“West Virginia is one of the first tonight, and West Virginia has done it right,” Capito said. “West Virginians voted to send a new voice to Washington to speak for them, one that will always fight for our values.”

Capito hopes to work with others in Washington to fight for the values of West Virginians.

“Tonight, I want to be the first to extend my hand in cooperation to my friend Senator Joe Manchin and to the newly elected congressional delegation to join me in this fight to put West Virginia first again,” Capito said.

Capito’s son, Charles Capito, thanked all of his mothers supporters for respecting their family and remembering she is only human.

“I want to thank you for taking care of the candidate,” Charles Capito said. “I’m not saying you all didn’t run mom hard, you ran her real hard, but you all knew when to slow down—whether it was to allow the family to celebrate my sisters wedding or to give mom the time and space she needed to mourn the loss of her mother—you all knew that her physical and mental well-being was more important than her next fundraiser or speech.”

Charles Capito continued to praise his mom for the special qualities she brought to her campaign and to Washington.

“For decades, my grandmother Shellie Moore wore a broach on her left lapel, and the broach depicted the road runner bird in full stride,” Charles Capito said. “The roadrunner stands for intelligence, it stands for tirelessness, and it stands for fearlessness. That’s why grandma wore that pin. She wore it because those are the attributes she held in the highest regard. So regardless of who you voted for today, all West Virginians should and have to be proud of sending a senator to Washington that is like the roadrunner.”

Capito ran on a campaign focused on gaining a faster growing economy, better jobs, strong middle class and a pro-coal energy policy. She promoted freedom for citizens to make their own health care decisions and a national security policy that protects home and family. With that in mind, Capito said she is in the Senate working for change.

“This election marks a true turning point for our state,” Capito said.

Creehan said that he hopes Capito will bring the kind of help to West Virginia that once existed.

“My hopes is that she will bring a presence to West Virginia similar to Senator Byrd when he was alive,” Creehan said. “West Virginia needs help.”

Capito and her team are ready to move from congress to the senate and continue to create a place in Washington for West Virginia. She said she would always fight for her homes values.

Britanie Morgan can be contacted at Morgan230@ marshall.edu.