The North Carolina Democratic Party held an election night watch party at the Raleigh Marriott City Center. The party hosted many public figures, including Roy Cooper, governor-elect, and North Carolina democratic candidates.
The event was initiated by Patsy Keever, the chairwoman of the North Carolina Democratic Party, with a dynamic speech to a full ballroom of more than 1,000 attendees. As the presidential and legislative election results were presented, the audience thinned to about 500 attendees and grew somber.
Later in the evening, Josh Stein accepted his position as attorney general with a rapid speech. Despite a rough presidential campaign and multiple state election losses, Democrats in attendance found solace in the pending gubernatorial election of Cooper.
“I know that people waited in long lines to vote and to allow their voice to be heard, and I’m humbled by that,” Cooper said. “I am confident that these results will be certified and that they will guarantee victory.”
Michael Morgan also gained a seat as associate justice in the North Carolina Supreme Court. His election guaranteed a Democratic-dominated court.
“North Carolina is a great state worthy of justice for all,” Morgan said. “I pledge to you that upon my initiation to the North Carolina Supreme Court that I will continue to exercise that fairness, that equality, that justice that all individuals deserve to have.”
Conversely, unsuccessful candidates such as Linda Coleman advised the attendees to remain positive and to look forward to the future with confidence in their convictions and a willingness to remain involved in policy making. She reinforced the ideals of her platform and of the North Carolina Democratic Party, including public education.
“While we know that we did not win this race [for lieutenant governor], we know that we must continue to fight for the values that we know are North Carolina,” Coleman said. “While our campaign ends tonight, it doesn’t end the conversation for public policy that we must all continue to engage in to make North Carolina a great state.”
