Anxious Georgians gathered together on Nov. 5 to watch the 2024 election unfold. Emory University held watch parties at Harland Cinema and at Oxford College and the Oxford Votes Initiative and Oxford Young Democrats hosted separate watch parties in the Phi Gamma Hall and the Oxford Student Center Greer Forum, respectively. The Georgia Democratic and Republican Parties hosted watch parties attended by legislators, political operatives and foreign leaders. The Emory Wheel reported from watch parties across the state during the first hours after polls closed and before former U.S. President Donald Trump’s victory in the election.
6 p.m.
“I wanted to be a part of history,” said Giselle Rodriguez, proudly pointing to her bright purple “Harris 2024” T-shirt. “And I want to watch history happen.”
With a mixture of anticipation and excitement, Democratic Georgia residents gathered at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta on the night of Nov. 5 for an election watch party. Supporters of U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris waited patiently for results from key states that had the power to shape the future of the country.
Republican Georgia residents gathered at Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead for a separate election watch party. Before 7 p.m., two large TV screens had already begun broadcasting Fox News. Guests excitedly discussed the election, and the media began to cover the newest updates with a row of cameras, microphones and bright lights.
Legislators from Germany were present at the watch party, including Bremen Parliament President Antje Grotheer. She said she was paying attention to the election because of its economic effects on Germany.
Beyond the economy, Grotheer stated that Trump’s proposed approach to the war in Ukraine concerns Germany.
“Donald Trump already told people that he would solve this problem within 24 hours, which, from our point of view, is not possible,” Grotheer said. “If he rejects the financial support and the military support for Ukraine, then it would mean that other NATO partners would have to support them even more.”
At Emory, the department of political science and the Emory Votes Initiative (EVI) hosted an election watch party in the Harland Cinema, where Emory students watched CNN with a mix of apprehension and excitement. Assistant Teaching Professor of Political Science and Director of Experiential Learning Matthew Baker moderated and held the event.
Baker said he was excited to see students come together.
“It is very exciting,” Baker said. “It's a great environment. I'm excited for the students. Many of them voted in the first election this cycle, and to be able to come together and watch the results pour in is just really fun.”
At 6:30 p.m., Assistant Director of Civic Engagement and EVI Tereza Lewis asked the audience to raise their hands if it was their first time voting, and the majority of the roughly 80 attendees did.
7 p.m.
At Oxford College, Luka Undilashvili (26Ox), experienced his first U.S. election. Undilashvili, an international student at Oxford, said it was important for students to express their democratic voice.
“If you participate in society, you should also be concerned about society,” Undilashvili said. “One way to do that is to express your democratic values and vote because that’s the perfect ideal that democracy has, that everyone has a voice.”
Back at Harland Cinema, Spencer Jack (28C) expressed her enthusiasm “to see a first Black female president.”
Juan Llano (25C) entered Harland Cinema adorned in a Trump shirt and MAGA hat. He said he knew the attire would draw different reactions, but he has found Emory to be overall receptive, even if it is a largely left-leaning campus.
Llano criticized “identity politics,” stating he used to frame politics around his Hispanic heritage but eventually shifted more toward individualism.
As Aviva Heselton (28C) watched her home state of Ohio teeter between red and blue, she discussed Trump’s remarks about migrants in Springfield and his pick of Ohio Republican Sen. J.D. Vance as fuel for criticism.
“Automatically just saying you're from Ohio, people pretty much think that you have some connection to Trump or Vance or you might be voting Republican.” Heselton stated.
8 p.m.
At the Georgia Republican watch party, political consultant Derrick Dickey said that early voting had gone well for Republicans. As someone who worked closely with the Republican Party this election, Dickey provided insights about the efforts made to increase voter turnout.
“There’s been a renewed effort to try to bank as many votes early, both the absentee ballots for Republicans and early in-person voting,” Dickey said. “In previous election cycles, we've gone into Election Day behind. It feels good that it looks like, based on the data, that [with] all that early voting, we actually have an advantage coming into Election Day.”
At the Democratic watch party, Rep. Nikema Williams (D-Ga.) took the stage and highlighted the efforts of Georgian Democrats who mobilized to vote for Harris.
Williams emphasized the importance of electing Democrats into the Oval Office and Congress while admonishing Trump’s last term, citing it as a time of “darkness and division.” She reminded the audience to be patient as the night went on.
“We’ve taken nothing for granted and fought for every single moment,” Williams said. “But most of all, we have made our voices heard. Georgia, we showed up like never before to the polls because we know the power of our voices, and we are ready for a new way forward.”
9 p.m.
Around 9:30 p.m., cheers rang out from Oxford students as results for Newton County, where Oxford resides, came in. Harris pulled ahead by 9,000 votes at 57% to 42% compared to the previous presidential election year’s 55% to 44%.
Oxford Young Democrats President Mia Burshteyn (25Ox) said she is happy with the turnout of the Oxford Young Democrats watch party and talked about the organization’s efforts in Newton County.
“It’s been interesting to see how Georgia’s playing out, especially because Ox Dems have been canvassing in Newton County, and so now, we’re seeing a stronger blue presence in Newton County, which is exciting but obviously worrisome for the rest of Georgia,” Burshteyn said.
As the night progressed, loud cheers filled the Georgia Democratic watch party when states like New Hampshire and New York were called for the Democrats. When Democrat Angela Alsobrooks won her Senate race, making history as the first Black woman to represent Maryland, the crowd erupted, with many attendees clapping and hugging.
