Cautious optimism reigns at local election watch parties
The crowd roared when Texas flashed across the screen at Pearl Bar, where CNN showed former Vice President Joe Biden ahead of President Donald Trump in the state.
The mostly young election-watchers were in good spirits, playing with their dogs and chatting among themselves as they watched the returns roll in.
About 10 minutes away at Main Street Tap and Grill, Victoria Saldivar, 46, also nervously awaited the results. She cast her vote for Trump for the second time.
“He’s not a politician,” she said. “I think he’s a businessman, and he’s smart.”
Citing the coronavirus pandemic, Saldivar said Trump did a goodjob getting ventilators and personal protective equipment to people during the crisis. She said Trump did the best he could given the pandemic-induced recession and thinks he is the right person to help the U.S. recover.
For Biden supporters at Pearl Bar Tuesday night, the most crucial issues heading into the election are gay rights, transgender rights, women’s rights, reproductive freedom, health care, immigration, and racial justice. Many attendees said they were more engaged in this election than they had been in the past.
The watch party at the lesbian bar on Washington Avenue was organized by the Houston GLBT Political Caucus, the oldest civil rights organization in the South focused on gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.
“I’ll enthusiastically support almost anyone that’s not Trump at this point,” Jess Rosenthal said. Rosenthal and Rebekah Wilson were on the outside patio with their dogs, Alice and Sils, listening to the TV report inthe background.
They said they felt a little nervous about the results, but remain optimistic.
Inside the main bar area, Eric Edward Schell, president and co-founder of Pride Portraits, was wearing a “they are fierce” face mask. Schell stressed the importance of having someone in office who understands the plight of trans people. They say the Trump administration has “chipped away” at their rights and that the president’s supporters are now “emboldened in hate and prejudice.”
About 4miles away at the Post Wine and Beer Garden, Kenneth Cortez, 36, was having a drink to take the edge off. He voted for Donald Trump in this election and in 2016, and said he expects it will be a close election.
“I think there’s a lot of people who will vote for Trump that just won’t say it,” Cortez said.
He has been watching the polls and reports where many say Biden will win, but he remembers what happened in 2016.
The Libertarian says he doesn’t agree with everything the president has said, but believes Trump has gotten a lot done, and has helped the economy.
Salvador Salinas’ reason for voting for Trump was simple: “I don’t like Democrats,” he said.
Salinas, 42, said he doesn’t expect to have his answers Tuesday night and says there are no guarantees, “but I hope Trump wins.”
At Pearl Bar, Larneka Lavalais says she’s heard about Trump supporters harassing people ahead of the election, and hopes they retreat peacefully and the country can work together.
“I think Biden is best for our country right now, with the pandemic, racial justice, and women’s rights being taken away,” she said as she tapped away on her phone, looking at the screen with one eye.