As we all know, our election for state offices took place on Friday. While most of the attention has gone to the winners, the efforts and campaigns of the runners-up should not go unnoticed. These men took a very brave step and put themselves out there in front of their peers. I had the opportunity to interview two of these young men to get their thoughts on what they have learned from their run for state office.
When talking with Zion Turner, runner-up for attorney general, he said that he learned that it is not always the loudest person who wins but the person who can sit back and listen. The people who can be quiet and answer the hard questions are often at an advantage. These personal connections are important, but they are not a guaranteed ticket to victory.
In another conversation with Connor Tauzier, runner-up for state treasurer, he stated that he learned a lot, including how to deal with setbacks, big and small, and move on to the next challenge. He said that he learned how to become more resilient and that he grew his self-confidence and public speaking abilities. Additionally, he pointed out that there is so much to learn when you lose. It provides you with a great moment to reflect on your mistakes and successes so that the next time you are in a similar situation, you will be better prepared to face it head-on.
While these candidates did not win, they did learn very valuable lessons from this experience, lessons they will carry with them for the rest of their lives. Congratulations to the winners and the runners-up.