A concession speech has no legal force, but it is one of the oldest customs in American elections: the loser accepts the result in public and, usually, congratulates the winner. On Nov. 3, candidates handled that moment in very different ways. This post collects five notable election-night speeches with video on YouTube, from three Republicans and two Democrats, including one candidate who declined to concede. A companion post covers the night’s victory speeches.
Because this was a strong night for Democrats, most high-profile concessions came from Republicans. Democratic concessions without confirmed video are noted at the end.
1. Abbott: “Mathematically, we’re not going to be able to win”
Texas Governor | Republican | Austin, Nov. 3, 2026
The speech: Gov. Greg Abbott took the stage at an Austin venue before the Associated Press had called the race and told supporters he had reviewed county results and called Democrat Gina Hinojosa to congratulate her. “Mathematically, we’re not going to be able to win this election,” he said. He then listed his record on teacher pay, the business climate, the power grid and the border, and called being governor the joy of his life.
The reaction: The room, which had been celebrating with a live band for two hours, fell silent, the Houston Chronicle reported. First Lady Cecilia Abbott began applauding and was joined by a few scattered claps, and some supporters were in tears.
Fact-check: Abbott’s claim that he leaves Texas in better shape than ever is his own assessment, not a measurable finding. Nothing requires a candidate to wait for a news organization’s race call before conceding.
Video: KSAT 12
Sources: Houston Chronicle via Yahoo News
2. Paxton: “it’s not over”
Texas U.S. Senate | Republican | Dallas, Nov. 3, 2026
The speech: Attorney General Ken Paxton, who defeated Sen. John Cornyn in the Republican runoff before losing to Democrat James Talarico, congratulated Talarico in Dallas and said he would pray for him. He thanked his children for standing by him through a campaign shadowed by his legal and personal controversies. “We’ve had a difficult night tonight across the country, but it’s not over,” he said, without announcing any future plans.
The reaction: The Dallas Morning News read the line as a signal that Paxton sees the loss as a setback rather than the end of his political career. Coverage abroad was harsher: the Irish Times called the result a dramatic failure for Elon Musk, whose allies spent heavily for Paxton.
Video: KTSM 9 News
Sources: Dallas Morning News via Yahoo News; The Irish Times
3. Mike Collins: thanks for Trump, no name for Ossoff
Georgia U.S. Senate | Republican | Georgia, Nov. 3, 2026
The speech: Rep. Mike Collins conceded to Sen. Jon Ossoff without naming him, according to ABC News. Instead he praised President Trump, calling it a privilege to serve under “the best president in my lifetime.” Collins will remain in the House until his term ends in January.
The reaction: The omission stood out because Ossoff’s own victory speech that night was largely an attack on Trump (see the victory speeches post).
Video: Associated Press
Sources: ABC News via ABC7
4. Nixon: “I’m going to wake up again tomorrow”
Florida U.S. Senate | Democratic | Jacksonville, Nov. 3, 2026
The speech: State Rep. Angie Nixon, a progressive who won an upset in the Democratic primary, lost to Republican Sen. Ashley Moody by fewer than 250,000 votes. Speaking at Emerald Station in Jacksonville’s Springfield neighborhood, she told supporters, “I’m going to wake up again tomorrow and start fighting.” She argued that her campaign had laid the groundwork for a progressive movement in Florida.
The reaction: Action News Jax described the race as narrow, and Nixon framed the result as a beginning rather than an end. Moody, speaking in Tampa, told voters she was there to serve them.
Video: News4JAX
Sources: Action News Jax via Yahoo News
5. Davis: no concession, and a warning for the governor
Louisiana U.S. Senate | Democratic | Louisiana, Nov. 3, 2026
The speech: Jamie Davis, a farmer from northern Louisiana, trailed Republican Rep. Julia Letlow by about 26,000 votes when he addressed his watch party, and he did not concede. He told supporters the race was not over and that his campaign would keep fighting for clean air and water, schools and health care. He closed with a direct message to Gov. Jeff Landry, who backed Letlow: “Jeff Landry, you’re on notice, buddy.”
Fact-check: With 99% of votes counted, Letlow led 50.9% to 49.1%, the Louisiana Illuminator reported. This article could not confirm whether Davis has since conceded.
Video: Louisiana First News
Sources: WWL Louisiana via Yahoo News; Louisiana Illuminator via Yahoo News
Other Concessions Worth Noting
Several notable concessions could not be matched to verified video. In Tampa, Democrat David Jolly told supporters they had lost the election but not the fight, and asked Governor-elect Byron Donalds to remember that Jolly’s voters were “now your constituents,” WFLA reported. In South Carolina, Democrat Jermaine Johnson conceded the governor’s race to Alan Wilson, saying he wanted Wilson to be the best governor the state had ever seen. In Maine, Sen. Susan Collins conceded to Democrat Troy Jackson in a written statement shortly before 12:30 a.m., calling her service the honor of her life. In Kansas, Sen. Roger Marshall said he had called Democrat Adam Hamilton to congratulate him.
Note on Scope
This post covers Senate and governor’s races only. Quotes come from the local reporting linked in each entry; where only a summary was available, remarks are paraphrased. Several House races were uncalled at publication, and a concession is not the same as a certified result (see why some races take weeks). The Nixon video is a station report that includes her remarks rather than the full speech.
Related Links
- Collins Concedes to Jackson in Maine’s US Senate Race, Maine Morning Star
- “Not the End of Our Story”: Jermaine Johnson Concedes, WLTX
- Roger Marshall Concedes, Congratulates Adam Hamilton, KMBC
- Mike Collins Concedes US Senate Race in Georgia, C-SPAN
- Texas Senate 2026: Paxton vs. Talarico
- Kansas Senate 2026: Marshall vs. Hamilton
Discussion Questions
- Have you ever lost a competition or election? How did you react in public?
- Which concession in this post did you find most gracious, and why?
- Should losing candidates always congratulate the winner by name?
- Was Abbott right to concede before the race was officially called?
- Is it reasonable for a candidate to wait before conceding a close race?
- Why do you think concession speeches matter even though they have no legal force?
- Should a concession speech include criticism of the winner or of other politicians?
- Why might a losing candidate say “it’s not over”?
- Do candidates in your country give concession speeches? What are they like?
- Imagine you just lost a close race. What would you say to your supporters?
