American presidential election 2024: in Beverly Hills, the nightmare evening of the Democrats

In Beverly Hills, California, volunteers from Kamala Harris’ campaign followed the results of a historic presidential election on Tuesday evening, November 5, full of anxiety. As the evening progressed, their faces grew darker, their candidate appearing ever more in difficulty and the Republicans on the verge of taking back the Senate.

“I fear America is still not ready to elect a woman to the White House” sighed Nicole, looking crestfallen, staring at the giant screen broadcasting the first results of the presidential election. A few hours later, his fears were confirmed.

Cry of anguish

Around this young African-American woman wearing a pink borsalino, dozens of Democratic volunteers from Los Angeles who have invested over the last hundred days in Kamala Harris’ blitzkrieg campaign, displayed the same concern. In this branch of the Democratic National Committee in Beverly Hills, decorated with a multitude of blue balloons, Donald Trump’s victory in North Carolina then in Georgia, two of the seven crucial pivotal states, initially cast a chill. Earlier, a cry of anguish rang out in the room when NBC News announced that the Democrats had just lost two seats in the Senate and that the Republicans were preparing to retake the upper house of Congress.

“I am very afraid that we will relive the Trump-Clinton scenario of 2016”said a young activist with tattooed arms, nervously sipping a beer and reserving a piece of pizza. “If he wins, it will be a disaster for American democracy because he now has control of the Supreme Court (editor’s note: conservative majority) »emphasized Gabbie, who
says she got involved in an electoral campaign for the first time this year “to help the country turn the page on Trump once and for all”.

Tooches, a retiree with dyed mauve hair, wanted to believe it until the end. “In 2020, Biden was off to a bad start”launched this fierce defender of abortion rights who spent several days on the phone in a Democratic call center in California to try to convince voters in another swing state, Arizona, to vote for Kamala Harris.

A gap between men and women

“This election reflects a growing gap between women and men in this country”says the activist to her neighbor, a young Latina with nails painted blue, wearing a sweatshirt on which is written “My body, my choice” (my body, my choice).

Around them, a small group of sympathizers began to leave the evening, looking somber. On the giant screen, the commentators looked at the results in the pivotal state of Pennsylvania, which, with its 19 electors, could swing the vote. “We must put an end to the system of electors and adopt the popular vote”said Tooches. “It is completely absurd and undemocratic that a small state like Wisconsin weighs as much as California and its 40 million inhabitants”.

A few moments later, Pennsylvania switched to the Republican side, and Kamala Harris’ defeat became certain. We will have to wait at least four more years to see a woman like Mason Blanche.