Outgoing Rep. Allen West leaves door open to running again

Outgoing Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) is open to running for office again in the future, but said Monday that it is “not for now” to make any plans.

“Now is to show appreciation for all these folks that did so much," West said Monday night, according to Florida’s WPTV News.  "It's not like my life ends, and my life of service to this country doesn't."

West, a Tea Party favorite, resisted conceding his House race to his opponent, Democrat Patrick Murphy, for nearly two weeks following the election. His campaign requested a recount and filed a legal challenge to contest the results.

West thanked his supporters Monday at a barbecue at his campaign headquarters, according to local news reports.

"The most important thing that we did, we continued to fight so that every vote counted. And if there were some nefarious activities, the people will make sure that they continue that on,” West said, according to WPTV News. “But the republic has to be restored, and if these people don't have trust and confidence in the electoral process, then we don't have the consent of the governed, and that's my concern moving forward."
 
Although the Republican Party in Georgia had publicly invited West to return to the state where he was born and raised in order to run for office there, West denied his interest.

"My wife was the daughter of a career military guy, and then she married a career military guy," he said. "We came here eight years ago and this is our home. We got a daughter in college down here, we've got a daughter in high school. This is where we live.”

He also said that the decision to run again will be up to him, his wife and God.

"That's between my wife and I and God as far as where we're going to go. Folks have to understand that God orders your steps, not man, and better doors are going to open,” he said.

West, a retired Army lieutenant colonel known for his bluntness as a freshman member of Congress, warned supporters he didn’t want to see them “crying over your barbecue.”

"Come here tonight and understand that at this place, at this time, there will be an awakening that will go forth all across the United States of America,” he said. “The harder the conflict, the greater the triumph will be.”

West has pledged to fight for tax reform until he leaves office in January.

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