On November 5th, 2024, the Rock Island County Democratic Party hosted a democratic watch party at the Rock Island Holiday Inn. People were nervous about the election but still optimistic about the potential outcomes. About a hundred people came to watch the election.
David Staples, a worker for the John Howard Association and a community advocate, says that he went to stand by his party. “Well, some of the people I voted for are here in this room. It’s only fitting to come and root for my team.”
State Senator District 36 Mike Halpin was also at the watch party. Halpin has been advocating within the community and listening to what the people want from the next president. "They want to move on. They want to get back to discussing real issues and not just talking in slogans and not bringing up extra extraneous things that really have no barring on government and life here in the country," Halpin said.
Maritia Griffith, a retired administrative law judge, also attended the watch party. She says that people should cast their vote based on what is most important to them. "There's going to be somebody making decisions that will impact their life. And not all of them are going to impact them or their family, but they will most likely impact somebody that they know," said Griffith. "So, you have to have a stake in this. You have to pay attention. You have to think about the issues. Think about what's important to you, or your family, to your neighbors, and make your decision based on that."
Kai Swanson, County Board District 15 member, ran unopposed this election. Swanson says it was thrilling to watch last night's election. “It's a night like tonight, no matter who wins or loses, it’s exciting to know that we’re a part of one of the greatest democratic experiments in the history of the earth."
(Kai Swanson hosts the program 'Saturday Morning Live' at WVIK.)
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