A final report on my congressional campaign: As I said on election night to a large crowd, I am grateful for the great class of 1980 and humbled that people who knew me when I was 17 would still support me for U.S. Congress.

Running a political campaign is like starting a business. More than ever, I think small business owners are some of the bravest people I know.

I campaigned in all 15 counties of the district, which includes Georgia’s entire coast. I put 25,000 miles on the campaign vehicle in 10 months.

My campaign raised approximately $1.4 million, almost five times more than any other Democratic congressional candidate has ever raised in the 1st District. The only Georgia congressional challenger to raise more this cycle was Marcus Flowers. His $15 million could not beat Marjorie Taylor Greene, and he received only 34 percent of the vote. Seven congressional challengers in Georgia did not top $100,000.

I campaigned with Sens. Warnock and Ossoff, Stacey Abrams, and numerous local elected officials.

The campaign’s TikTok videos went viral (I am the chillest dude in America). Senior Washington, D.C., correspondent Hallie Jackson traveled to Savannah to interview me. Ms. Jackson’s story about TikTok and politics was broadcast on NBC Nightly News shortly before the general election, using me as an example of a politician who effectively used TikTok, contrasted with Dr. Oz, who did not.

I question whether Georgia is a battleground state. No Democrat won a statewide race on November 8. An incumbent, Warnock won only after a runoff against a very flawed candidate and spending millions and millions of dollars. Georgia’s new lieutenant governor was a fake elector on January 6, 2021.

Congressional districts are drawn to favor the incumbent of whatever party. No congressional incumbent lost in the general election. (No incumbents in statewide races lost in Georgia.)

I carried two counties, including Chatham (Savannah), the most populous county in the district where both the incumbent and I live and have spent our adult careers. I received 58 percent of the vote in Chatham County and 61 percent of the vote in Liberty County. In the 1st District I received more votes than any other Democrat on the ballot, with the exception of Sen. Warnock. I earned 41 percent of the district-wide vote. The only other challenger in a Georgia congressional race who exceeded that percentage was Republican Chris West, who received 45 percent of the vote in Georgia’s 2nd District, a district that Republicans redrew in 2021 in an effort to make it more competitive for Republicans.

I have an endless supply of new stories, a development that friends and acquaintances will receive with mixed emotions. As Tom Chapin has said, “If Wade likes a story, you’re going to hear it more than once.” (I’ve told that story more than once.) Who knows, maybe a book or some public speaking gigs will come out of this.

I am grateful for the experience, and I have no regrets.

—Wade Herring, P.O. Box 9848, Savannah, GA 31412, (912) 944-1639; wherring@huntermaclean.com; Meg Coughlin LePage,8 Brookside Drive, Cumberland, ME 04021; (207) 791-1382; mlepage@pierceatwood.com; Rob Dinsmoor, 14 Rust St., South Hamilton, MA 01982; (978) 269-4069; dinsmo@earthlink.net