Evanston Democrats brace for national results
As the polls closed across Illinois on Tuesday at 7 p.m., Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss said he was "hopeful" but "on edge," remaining cautiously optimistic as Evanston Democrats join voters across the country holding their breath for the results in the consequential presidential race.
"Things have gone so right recently," Biss said, praising Kamala Harris' campaign for its closing message in the final few days of the campaign.
"The signs are good," he said as CNN's election night coverage played on TVs across the Five and Dime restaurant on Davis Street.
Eager Evanston Democrats gathered at the restaurant Tuesday night to watch — and potentially celebrate — the election results.
But the results Harris' overwhelming victory in Evanston is certainly not indicative of the country.
As results began to roll in across Illinois, State Rep. Robyn Gabel (District 18) and U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky could both celebrate a return to office.
"I looked to see if I was winning and it was about 81%," Gabel said just after 8 p.m. "So I think we're OK!"
By 9 p.m., all precincts in District 18 had reported their results with Gabel receiving 78.5% of the vote.
But the tension in the room remained high as attendees small-talked, drank and ate, with one eye continuously glued to TVs and phones.
Knees nervously bounced under tables and attendees stood cross armed in front of the TVs all night.
"I feel good," said Democratic Party of Evanston President Kathy Hayes early into the night, just as results began to roll in.
Just minutes after the Associated Press projected Harris would win Illinois , U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky addressed the crowd, remaining optimistic of a Harris victory and a Democratic majority in the House of Representatives.
Schakowsky will return to Washington for her 14th term and said she was "excited to serve in a Democrat-dominated House," projecting that Democrats would win the lower chamber of Congress.
Unofficial figures indicate the incumbent received about 67% of the votes cast — which is toward the low end of her performance in elections over the years .
Schakowsky, 80, said she isn't prepared to make a decision about running again in 2026 and said a decision about that would come in the next year.
The Democratic Party of Evanston turned out in huge numbers this election, with party officials saying nearly 900 people volunteered since August, making calls and knocking on doors in crucial swing states.
Operation Swing State leader Patrick Hanley said the organization's volunteers knocked on over 200,000 doors in Wisconsin, a monstrous get-out-the-vote effort in a must-win state.
"We ran through the state this year," Hanley said. "And Evanston was such a huge part in that."
But as the night continued to drag on and party attendees hit the doors, many saying they would continue to monitor the results from home, nervous sighs filled the room with Donald Trump slowly nearing the 270 electoral votes needed to recapture the White House.
The final stragglers of the night stood patiently at the bar watching the final results, many with unhappy looks on their faces.
Cathy Sullivan said she was in disbelief at the early results and "disillusioned" with the fact Trump could become president again.
"We did the work," Hayes said. "We have nothing to be ashamed about or down about."
Hayes said she was proud of the work Evanston Democrats did throughout the election and that communities and people need to come together to overcome differences.
"Hate cannot prevail," Hayes said.
