At the Trump victory party in Spokane Valley, Washington, Republicans said they were looking for a candidate who could bring jobs to eastern Washington and the rest of the nation, who had family values they can support, and who can protect America’s borders.
Larry Stalley from Spokane said he came mostly to see how the presidential race would turn out. He said he saw it as a chance to hit the reset button.
“I think there’s too much control, too much government, too many regulations,” Stalley said. “I just think we’re going way off the wrong path there.”
Stalley’s opinion was echoed throughout the night. Many said they weren’t pleased with either candidate, but a few said they appreciated Donald Trump’s unconventional ways.
Washington state Rep. Jeff Holly believes that’s what helped Trump win.
“There really is an indicator that all the people who have been disenfranchised for the last 40 years, found somebody that’s speaking their language. Even if it’s somebody that’s talking plainly, that’s disregarding political correctness, they like that. They identify with that,” Holly said. “I see that he’s reaching part of the population that’s been politically uninvolved that’s been waiting for somebody like Donald Trump to come along.”
Some voters wore hats with the future president’s campaign slogan. One man wore a t-shirt that said “Hillary for Prison, 2016.” In the end, they all celebrated the outcome for the candidate they supported in a long and bitter battle for the White House.
Meanwhile, at a Democratic house party in Richland, Washington, many were disheartened about the presidential race. At the start of the party the house was packed, but it quickly thinned out as the U.S. map turned red.
“Earlier in the evening I had mentioned that this is kind of a watershed election,” said David Harvey, the host of the party. “It still is, but I find it horrifying for the country and the world -- cause everyone looks up to the United States. We’ve basically elected an authoritarian racist.”
Before 10 p.m. most of the guests solemnly put on their coats and took their potluck dishes home. Before she left, Elinor Kasza said she has two sons in the Army. She’s not sure she can trust Trump with the U.S. military.
“And I take this very personally, that we have just elected a person who does not have self control and who I can not trust with the nuclear codes,” she said.
Overall, people at the party were worried about the future of environmental cleanup at Hanford here and discrimination.
