It's the end of an era in Washington D.C.

After representing the state of Ohio in the U.S. Senate for nearly two decades, Sherrod Brown delivered his farewell speech Tuesday. He leaves Congress as a champion for workers and the middle class but says his fight for the people of Ohio is far from over.

Taking to the Senate floor one final time, Sherrod Brown's voice echoed with gratitude, accomplishment and a call to action, reflecting on his roots and mission to fight for everyday americans.

"From my parents came my values and my desire to serve," Brown said. "They taught me by their action and their admonition that the role of government was to help the little guy, the big guy could take care of himself."

Throughout his career, Brown's signature voice became synonomous with his fight for workers, unions and struggling communites. He mentioned several accomplishments including increasing health care for veterans, expanding the child tax credit and helping save Ohioans pensions.

"Through all my years in Congress, I've tried to be the voice in the megaphone for those workers and for those communities, to listen to them, fight for them, not to listen to Wall Street, not the drug companies, not the big railroads, but to fight for the people who make this country work."

Brown says people are always asking him how he's doing since losing the election to Bernie Moreno in November and he says there are two reasons he's doing well.

"First is this team. I've never been prouder of the public servants who work in this office. How they immediately went to work to help and support each other, all of them. All of them have dedicated themselves to making sure their colleagues land well and to making sure case work for Ohioans is handed off to other members of Congress. The second reason is that, for me, this job's never really been about the title of being U.S. Senator. Much of the important work we've done has been driven not by a bunch of Washington insiders, but by ordinary Ohioans."

Brown warns though that for too many Americans, hard work no longer guarantees a path to the middle class. He challenged his colleagues to continue the fight.

"I've always looked at things a little differently, perhaps than some. To me, politics is not really left to right or liberal or conservative. It's really about whose side you're on and whom you're willing to fight for, whom you're willing to stand up to. That that's what true populism is all about. True populism lifts all people. True populism doesn't tear others down. True populism doesn't play to race and division. True populism is essentially about the dignity of work, putting workers at the center of all we should be doing. For too many people in Ohio and around the country, hard work hasn't paid off. Today, far too many workers don't see a path in the middle class no matter how hard they work for almost half a century, we know this. We know this. We should be challenging this. For half a century, the stock market soared. Executive compensation has exploded. Corporate profits have risen dramatically. Worker productivity has increased, but workers wages have been comparatively flat and costs keep going up until we solve the fundamental problem this country, until hard work is valued, until everyone has a path to the middle class and the stability and security of a good paying job. Our work in this body, my work as a private citizen, come January, that work is unfinished."

Twice Brown became emotional, when talking about his team and his wife Connie.

"My journey has been a family affair with my brothers Bob and Charlie, for literally 50 years, with the sacrifices that family members inevitably make, to ambition, to service Yes, sometimes to ego for a career serving the public. To my beloved Connie, how selfless she's been as I pursued this dream, her exceptional talent is exceeded only by her kindness and spirit. As a wife and mother and grandmother extraordinaire, there's no one like her. How lucky I've been the last 22 years."

Brown then closed out his speech promising this farewell is not the end of his work.

This is my last speech on the Senate floor, but it's not I promise you the last time you'll hear from me. Thank you."

Brown has not ruled out running again for political office down the road, but come January, he'll head back to Ohio and his family.