A large and excited crowd of Democrats gathered Tuesday night at Camp North End for what they had hoped would be a victory celebration for Vice President Kamala Harris, who was seeking to become the nationโs first woman president. A thumping band played pop music, and two bars flowed with alcohol amid excited chatter.ย
โIโm feeling hopeful that humanity will win,โ Anthony Wright, a 42-year-old Charlotte educator, said early in the evening. โIโve been nervous, but everythingโs been pretty good so far.โ
Within hours, the mood inside the watch party hosted by the Mecklenburg County Democratic Party (Mec Dems) would shift decidedly. And by the time statewide election results were announced โ confirming that Harris had lost North Carolina โ the crowd had thinned to a quieter, more nervous, few.ย
Around 11 p.m., Drew Kromer, who chairs Meck Dems, addressed the faithful few with a brief message of disappointment and resolve.
โWhen we think about the challenging things that have happened and the results we donโt enjoy as much, we all need to also remember the positive things,โ he said, a reference to the fact that, on that same evening, North Carolina had elected a Democratic governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and state superintendent of public instruction.ย
North Carolina again swings red ย
Just as the polls had predicted, the North Carolina race had been pivotal. After more than 5.6 million votes were cast, former president Donald Trump carried the state with 51.95% to Harrisโ 47.56%. The remaining 0.49% was split between write-in candidates and candidates representing small parties.
Trumpโs win in North Carolina extended a 16-year Republican streak; no Democratic presidential candidate has won the state since Barack Obamaโs victory in 2008.ย
Rashaad Hamilton, who attended the Mec Dem watch party, called the outcome โdisappointing.โ
โYou know, it looks like Donald Trump did what he needed to do to push up his margins in these rural counties,โ Hamilton said. โAnd man, I didnโt know they had any more votes left in these damn counties.โ
Hamilton praised the work of Democrats in Mecklenburg County, where 65% of the votes were cast for Harris.
โIโve seen people bleed and cry over every vote in this county, Hamilton said. โI donโt think we could have done anything more, and I think we have to be proud of that.โ
On the county level, Democrats continued their partyโs dominance, winning every seat on the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners that was up for election.
Despite the Harris loss, Issac Dei, 17, said he was content with Democratic wins in other state races.
In the governorโs race, Democrat Josh Stein defeated Republican Mark Robinson 55% to 40%, and in a much tighter race for lieutenant governor, Democrat Rachel Hunt won against Republican Hal Weatherman 49% to 48%.
Democrat Jeff Jackson was elected attorney general with 51% of the vote, and Democrat Maurice โMoโ Green edged out his Republican challenger to become North Carolinaโs next superintendent of public instruction. Elaine Marshall, also a Democrat, was elected secretary of state.
Tyler Swain Mitchell, who lives in Columbia, S.C., said he came to Charlotte to direct the Harris campaignโs get-out-the-vote efforts in Charlotte-Mecklenburg.
Mitchell said he was pleased with the Democratic turnout in Charlotte, but it โwasnโt enough to carry it throughโ for Harris in North Carolina,โ he added.
โIโm proud of the efforts that we put forward, and weโre hoping that the other swing states will turn blue and possibly make a special comeback in her favor,โ he said.
Despite Harrisโ loss in North Carolina, Mitchell said he remained optimistic.
โI think itโs the fact that you wake up every morning and understand and say thereโs always a new day ahead,โ he said.
