08/19/2026
Tonight, the people of Dixie County made their decision, and I want to begin by congratulating Mr. Keith Tuten on his victory and becoming our next County Commissioner for District 2.
Keith, congratulations. I wish you nothing but the best as you step into this position. I hope you serve this county well, and I genuinely hope your time in office brings good things to the community we all call home.
I also want to recognize Commissioner Daniel Wood, the incumbent in this race. Daniel has given his time in service to Dixie County, put his record before the voters, and once again put himself and his family through everything that comes with running for public office. I respect that and thank him for his service.
Three of us stepped forward. Three of us put our names on that ballot. Tonight, the people made their choice.
And I respect it completely.
I also want everybody who supported me to know something very clearly:
I’m not upset. I’m not angry. And I’m not disappointed in what we accomplished.
Obviously, I entered this race wanting to win. But from the beginning, there was something I prayed for more than victory.
I prayed for God’s will to be done over this election—not my own.
It’s easy to pray that prayer when you don’t know what the answer is going to be. The real test is whether you still trust Him when His answer is different from yours.
I do.
Tonight didn’t go the way we hoped, but that doesn’t mean it went the wrong way.
I believe that with all my heart.
This door closing is simply God’s way of pointing me toward another one. Maybe there’s another opportunity, another way to serve, or another purpose for my life that I can’t see yet.
I don’t know what that is tonight.
But I’m excited to find out.
And that’s why I can walk away from this election with a smile on my face and peace in my heart.
To every person who voted for me, put a sign in their yard, wore my shirt, donated, shared something, encouraged me, prayed for me, or simply took the time to hear me out—thank you.
You believed in a 29-year-old first-time candidate enough to put your name, your time, and your vote behind me.
That’s something I will never forget.
To my family and the people closest to me, thank you for standing beside me through all of it. You experienced the long days, late nights, stress, excitement, criticism, and everything else that came with this journey.
I couldn’t have done it without you.
And I wouldn’t take this experience back for anything.
I met people I probably never would have met otherwise. I had conversations I’ll remember for the rest of my life. I learned a lot about this community, about people, and probably most importantly, about myself.
So tonight isn’t a night for disappointment.
It’s a night for gratitude.
I’m grateful that I had the courage to put my name on the ballot.
I’m grateful for every person who stood beside me.
I’m grateful for every vote that was cast for me.
And I’m grateful that I had the opportunity to try.
Keith, congratulations again. I sincerely wish you and your family the very best as you begin this next chapter.
Daniel, thank you for your service and for being part of this race.
And to everybody who supported me: hold your heads high.
We gave it everything we had, and I couldn’t ask for anything more than that.
I asked God for His will.
Tonight, I accept His answer.
I don’t know exactly what He has in store for me next, but I believe there’s a reason for everything, and I believe there’s a greater plan and purpose ahead.
So I’m not walking away from tonight wondering what could have been.
I’m walking forward wondering what’s next.
And I have a feeling the best parts of my story haven’t been written yet.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
God bless Keith as he takes on this responsibility.
God bless everyone who stepped forward to run.
And God bless Dixie County.
