All decked in red
“Cautiously optimistic” was the party line at the Republican Party of Bexar County’s Election Night Watch Party. Lined with Trump-Vance campaign paraphernalia and decorations, the venue was complete with its own merchandise store, an open bar and a cake that said “Make America Great Again,” — to be served, of course, on plates emblazoned with ‘Trump 2024.’
Kris Coons, recently elected Bexar GOP chairwoman, was on her feet for the majority of the night and emceed the event. She held a microphone closely to her person, running back and forth to the event stage to make announcements with updates on the election. Every announcement she made was met with cheering and flag-waving from the approximately 175 attendees.
Like several others we spoke to, she was feeling confident about this election and cautiously optimistic about Donald Trump’s chance of success.
What’s at stake in this election?
“Our freedoms, our liberties, all those normal things you hear right now — that’s not rhetoric for us … what’s at stake for us is just the American way of life … we really are concerned that our children are not going to have the same life that we had growing up.”
Charlie Bush, 73 years old, was at the event last night and said that he was most excited about the opportunity to leave the Biden-Harris administration. He said this was due to the way several issues were mishandled.
Is there a specific event you’re referring to?
“The absolutely deplorable and embarrassing pullout from Afghanistan. … I have friends and family in the military, and I know some of them that have lost friends in Afghanistan, and the imbeciles that are running the country right now won’t even acknowledge that. In fact, they haven’t called any of the victims’ families and offered an apology, and they haven’t offered an apology to the American people.”
A concern shared by several at the watch party was ballot integrity. Erika White, 52 years old, said she was 97% confident that the election would go her way, attributing the lost 3% to fear of election fraud.
How are you feeling about election integrity?
“That’s the only thing, I think, if we had it, I think it would be in the basket for me, but that’s what my 3% is. I want to stay hopeful. … If I felt like we had election integrity, then I would be 100% sure we would win.”
Sporting a button that had a minion-ified Donald Trump reading “Deplorable Me,” Johnathan, 73 years old, of North Central San Antonio, stated that it was not the Democratic Party as a whole he took problem with, but the progressive movement within the party. Johnathan shared his concerns on election integrity.
What are your thoughts on election integrity this election season?
“Election integrity? I think it’s tighter than it was last time, which is a good sign. I believe that there should be valid ID voters. I believe in American elections, American citizens should be the only people to vote. Even if someone’s been here for five, 10 years, until they do their part and become a real citizen, they shouldn’t have the right to vote.”
Wracked with dread
Eight miles away, the Bexar County Democratic Election Night Watch Party took place in Cowboys Dance Hall. The energy was still palpable, but in a different way.
A crowd of approximately 200 at 7:30 p.m. dwindled down to only 40 by 10 p.m. The event was set up for a celebration: drinks and free food, Harris-Walz and Javier Salazar posters covering the walls, a dance floor in the middle of the room and country music blasting from all speakers. But as emcees urged the crowd to dance, the audience responded in blank stares toward the screens of the televisions.
Sheriff Javier Salazar, who hosted the event and celebrated his third re-election that night, walked throughout the dance hall and greeted people. For the first hour of the event, people were bustling around him to get the chance to talk to him. His celebration speech at 9:30 p.m. drew the remaining 50 people to the center of the dance floor, cheering him on.
Though he made efforts to keep up the morale of the attendees, Salazar expressed what there was to lose in this presidential election.
What’s at stake in this election?
“Our democracy is at stake. I mean, when you got a guy that’s a convicted felon — he’s flat out told us what he’s going to do: he’s going to act like a dictator. If that doesn’t scare the bejeezus out of you, then I don’t know what it’s going to take,” Salazar said.
Maria Ysabel Trevino, volunteer greeter at the event, welcomed each new arrival with a smile on her face. Trevino explained that the Bexar County Democrats asked her to volunteer for the event. She was there because she has a “bubbly” personality, but helping people feel welcome was not the only reason she attended.
Why are you here?
“To support the democratic cause, to support Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, but also to support unification, and to support sanity, to support common sense and the democratic process and in policies and the fact that you don’t represent just one part of the population. You represent everyone, and that’s what Kamala says,” Trevino said.
People at the event were there to show their support for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, but the rationale differs from person to person. For Sherry Stell, attendee of the event, Harris represents something large.
What about Harris excites you?
“She represents so much from so many people who want to see her in power, and she brings a lot of hope to us, to so many, so many cultures, diversities — she’s hope,” Stell said.
Lindsey Andrews, another attendee of the event, said she felt the freedom and rights of marginalized communities were on the line this election cycle.
What’s at stake in this election?
“What isn’t at stake? Everything is at stake. … There’s a slew of so many things that are just really important, and I think just voting in this election alone is probably the most important presidential election we are probably ever gonna have in our decade, in our lifetime,” Andrews said.
