The election night watch party at Bronzeville Soul, 4655 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, drew a full crowd. The event was organized by the Phi Kappa Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, of which Harris is a member.

Tiffany D. West, president of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated Phi Kappa Omega chapter, shared that despite feeling nervous, she was optimistic about the election. 

“I feel like there was a lot more on the line,” she said. “I felt like a lot of things that we maybe take for granted, like health, women’s health and voters’ rights, have been challenged this year. So because of that, it feels very different.”

West emphasized that AKA Sorority Incorporated is built on social justice and that is why they wanted to provide a space to “come together, create opportunities for voter mobilization and education, and support our current programs, which is building our economic wealth and supporting a black business.”

“I am hoping that we have our first female president, I am hoping that democracy is restored, and I am hoping that America can come together despite parties, despite differences and continue to build something great,” West said. 

Tiffany Johnson, another member of the AKA sorority, also said that she voted in this election to support democracy. She explained that she was nervous while viewing the updates and “can’t believe that we’re voting for a convicted felon.”

“I don’t understand it,” she said. “That’s why this vote is important.”

Watch party attendee Cynthia Anderson took advantage of early voting this year and despite feelings of anxiety towards the election results, she felt like the race is one of the most historic, she said. 

“This presidential race is a little bit more historic, we have a Black woman running for president for the first time,” Anderson said. 

All attendees did not feel positive about the early election results. 

Landre Davidson, a voter from Texas, expressed disappointment with how close the polls were because “it’s a convicted felon against a prosecutor,” he said. 

Despite mixed reactions, feelings of anxiety loomed over the event. 

“I am seated on pins and needles trying to figure out why the high-end states are not reporting more accurately and sooner than later,” Marianne Stallworth, from Country Club Hills, Illinois, said. 

Additional reporting by Emma Jolly and Kate Larroder 

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Eileen O’Neill Burke, former Illinois Appellate Court justice, won the race to become the next Cook County State’s Attorney.

The state’s attorney’s office is responsible for prosecuting all felony and misdemeanor crimes in Cook County and can influence criminal justice reform. 

O’Neill Burke defeated former 2nd Ward Alderman Bob Fioretti in the race to replace outgoing State’s Attorney Kim Foxx.

The AP declared O’Neill Burke the winner with 59% of votes counted. O’Neill Burke held more than 65% of the vote late Tuesday in comparison to just under 30% for Republican candidate Bob Fioretti. Libertarian candidate Andrew Charles Kopinski had 4.4%, coming in third.

As previously reported, both candidates were targeting high crime rates in the city, one of the leading concerns among voters, according to a 2023 poll by the Illinois Policy Institute. Gun violence remains a big issue in Chicago and illegal guns are the main focus for both the candidates.

O’Neill Burke has been vocally supportive of the pretrial provisions included in the SAFE-T Act, specifically the removal of cash bail. 

The incoming state’s attorney plans to use her authority to push for more pretrial detentions for gun crimes, as well as those who commit violent offenses on the CTA.

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On election night, Harris claimed victory in Illinois, securing 19 electoral votes with 56% of the vote counted. While many supporters celebrated the win, there were also expressions of concern regarding the future dynamics of the race.

Juan Aguirre, a Chicago native and candidate for Illinois’ 3rd Congressional District, called Harris’ win in Illinois “expected” but said he was hopeful for results in the swing states. He also expressed concern over potential delays in the election results, fearing uncertainty in the days ahead.

“I am hopeful that there’s going to be a definitive winner this evening, one side or the other, instead of something that we had in 2020,” Aguirre said. “I believe there would be a lot more chaos in the United States.”

Similarly, first-year interior architecture major Madeleine Fowlkes from Memphis, Tennessee, shared her enthusiasm about Harris’ victory in Illinois, but her focus is now on the results in Pennsylvania.

“I really want her to do good for that state, just because I know that it’s gonna get her further,” Fowlkes said. “I’m glad that she’s closer, but I’m a little scared. I’m feeling hopeful.”

J.D. Johnston, a Washington, D.C. resident, said he was thrilled by the Illinois victory of the candidate he had supported. “I was pretty hyped when I saw Kamala join the race,” he said. “I didn’t know who I was going to vote for at first, but after seeing her policies, I knew she was the one. It just clicked — her values align with mine.”

Johnston still believes Harris has a good chance of winning. “Red votes come in sooner, because it’s in a more rural area, so I’m not too worried. I think Democrats should slide in.” 

Despite the Illinois win, some voters remained uncertain as election results continue to roll in tonight. 

Wajid Aldomour, casting her vote for the first time in her hometown of Dallas, now feels more confident in the power of her vote after moving to Bridgeport, Illinois. Aldomour still finds herself anxious as she awaits the results.

“I’m glad to be out of Texas, for one thing,” she said. “The leadership of the Texas government has gotten a lot more bold with the rise of Donald Trump and his policies, so I’m grateful to be here where it’s not going to completely destroy my life, but it’s still stressful.”

Additional reporting by Gavin Lipinski and Sofia Oyarzún and Vivian Richey 

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Kasey’s Tavern, a sports bar located at 701 S. Dearborn St., had their TV screens tuned into sports and election news.

Calvin Sanders, a graduate student at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law, was working on an assignment at the bar. Having already voted in Indianapolis Sanders said despite his anxiety, they try to think more rationally and look towards statistics, like vote count demographics. 

“For example, Democratic voter enthusiasm, particularly among Black populations, some of the key states have a significant Black population,” Sanders said. “That is something that comforts and eases my anxiety, but on the other hand, I think anxiety…you can’t fight anxiety with reason. You can mitigate it a little bit, but it’s going to be hard.”

At 6 p.m., the AP called Indiana as a win for Republican candidate and ex President Donald Trump. Indiana has historically been a red state. 

Sanders said that the outcome of this election, especially in terms of weighing freedoms such as bodily autonomy risks their identity. 

“What I have personally at stake in me and my positionality–I’m a late twenties, perceived as Black male–and so I think there’s a lot of rhetoric on the Trump side, which puts me in the crosshairs of a lot of things too,” Sanders said. “Even if there’s no policy change, at least on the federal level, the zeitgeist, the atmosphere that I live in, I’d rather not live in that atmosphere than what I would hope for under Kamala Harris’ presidency.”

For Andrea Voss, a bartender and Chicago voter, her concerns with election results lie in a repeat of the 2016 presidential election. In the 2016 election, Arizona, Michigan and New Hampshire were close calls between Presidential Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton and Republican candidate Donald Trump, resulting in Trump winning. 

“I think I’m just so numb, I’m very, very scared that it’s going to be like the Hilary-Trump election, where we all thought ‘Oh, everything’s fine, there’s no way he could win,’ and then he did,” she said. 

Other patrons, like Mike Ohlmes, who voted in Ohio, expressed concerns that the election might be a sign of more challenging times ahead, especially in terms of issues like women’s rights and workers’ rights, he said.

“It’s the end of the world,” said Ohlmes in reference to if Trump wins.

Additional reporting by Samantha Ho and Morgan Kromer. 

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Mario Jimenez, a senior photography major and president of Latino Alliance, initially felt at ease as the night began. However, Jimenez anticipated experiencing the same anxiety he felt during the 2016 election as the results began to roll in.

As the first polls closed in six states at 6 p.m, the Associated Press called Kentucky and Indiana for former President Donald Trump. Both are red states he was expected to win. Vermont was called for Vice President Kamala Harris. Both candidates still have a long way to go before they reach the 270 electoral vote requirement for victory.

“Later, I will be feeling it,” he said. “I don’t know how I’m going to deal with it, but I’m just going to continue how I normally live my life. Life has to keep on going.”

Mackenzie Endlich, a sophomore animation major, also felt anxious awaiting election results while on her commute to campus. Despite her anxiety, Endlich, originally from Wisconsin, said her vote is important in a swing state. 

“I believe that voting from a swing state is extremely important,” Endlich said. “People should know that your vote matters and genuinely the election could be tipped by one of these swing states, especially being from one myself and as a first-time voter.”

Similarly, Student Government Association President Jenna Davis said she’s very anxious and “just trying to stay positive because I’ve done all that I can [to] just encourage people to vote on top of my vote.”

Davis voted early at the Supersite a week and a half ago and focused on providing a space for people in the SGA today. 

“I’ve been trying to distract myself all day, but you know, it’s gonna happen eventually,” she said. “Obviously, I’m hoping for the best outcome, which is Kamala Harris becoming president and I’m very hopeful.”

Before the election polls closed, Mae Mendoza, a sophomore animation major, expressed how meaningful it was to participate in this election as a first-time voter.

 “We as women especially had to fight for our right to vote and to have the ability to vote. I want to be able to celebrate the people who worked so hard for my right to vote today,” Mendoza said. “As a first-time voter, it means so much to me, and I feel so grateful to be involved in my country’s decisions.” 

Additional reporting by Kate Larroder and Sofia Oyarzún and Lilly Sundsbak 

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