How Democrats in Philadelphia watched the US election slip away

Throughout election day, reports came in of record turnout across Philadelphia, the largest and traditionally Democratic city in the key swing-state of Pennsylvania. Democrats were buoyed by the news, especially the reported record numbers of Hispanic voters – particularly Puerto Ricans. Republicans were clearly anxious.

In a post on his platform Truth Social early that evening, Donald Trump alleged “MASSIVE CHEATING” across the city, claiming that law enforcement was on its way. Local officials immediately refuted the allegations.

Half an hour before Pennsylvania’s polls closed, Euronews headed to Huntingdon, a relatively poor neighbourhood in northern Philadelphia with a large Puerto Rican population. Democratic officials were telling voters to “stay in line” past closing time to ensure everyone who had turned out could get their chance to vote.

The polling station was a community centre, harshly lit from the girders of an elevated trainline. It was empty save for one 60-year-old man, Angel, a transport inspector who previously served as a state police officer in Puerto Rico. He was wearing a bright red cap emblazoned with the words: “Trump-Vance 2024”.

“Only 150 people have come here to vote, and I’ve been here all day,” he said, telling Euronews he was “helping people to vote.”

Angel was positive about Trump’s chances, although he conceded that the sight of a comedian at a Trump rally calling Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage” would likely put off a number of Hispanic voters. Nonetheless, he was standing by Trump.

“You know, Trump didn’t say it. It was his rally, but he didn’t say it,” he reasoned.

In the final 30 minutes the polls were open, just one voter turned out at Angel’s location: Ijanae, an African-American veterinary nurse in her 20s. She was there to vote for Kamala Harris, but wasn’t optimistic, accusing Democrats of “using (Harris) as a scapegoat” in what she saw as a particularly difficult election.

As election workers closed up the polling station, Angel gathered his Trump signs. “After this, I’m taking my papers and I’m going home,” he told Euronews. “I don’t want to be outside, there’s going to be trouble.”

‘Cautiously optimistic’

Soon after 8pm, hundreds of Democrats turned out at a bar in downtown Philadelphia to watch the results come in. As the counting got underway, local party officials were buoyant and eager to speak to the dozens of reporters who had lined up to mingle with supporters.

John Brady, the energetic chair of Philadelphia Young Democrats, bounced between interviews. Speaking to Euronews at 9:30pm, before any swing states had been called, he described himself as a pessimist who would probably be “pleasantly surprised.”

Brady admitted that the Democrats had been “really worried” about the election, but was convinced it would come right for his party in the end. “We’re going to win Pennsylvania, and we’re going to win Pennsylvania big for Kamala,” he insisted.

Another party official was optimistic but less exuberant, telling Euronews that “a lot of the results that we’re hearing so far are very encouraging”, but admitting there was “nothing official yet”.

‘I’m scared’: the mood darkens

Just an hour later, the room was gripped with tension.

The once-jubilant crowd were quietly glued to the projector as poll returns in key swing states began to stack up in Trump’s favour.

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“I haven’t ever been this nervous for an election,” says Michaela, an elementary school teacher in her 50s sitting at the bar. Her eyes flicking between one network on the big screen and another on her phone – the two of them offering different projections – she admitted she was increasingly “confused” and “scared.”

“I just can’t believe so many people would vote for that man. A criminal.”

Standing nearby with the other wide-eyed supporters was 60-year-old Michael, a medical research director. He had travelled hundreds of miles from Boston to campaign for Harris in hopes she would win Pennsylvania’s all-important 19 Electoral College votes.

“It’s really important to me that Donald Trump not be elected president,” he told Euronews, “and until we see what happens in Pennsylvania, I’m trying to manage my emotions”.

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The mayor rallies the troops

Just before 11pm, there was a slight commotion as a file of security guards escorted Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker into the building. Aides quickly assembled a podium for her in a large room upstairs.

“I want to make it clear … Philadelphians have spoken,” she told supporters to the sound of uncertain cheers before directly addressing Trump’s allegations of voter fraud in the city. “Despite some fraudulent claims on social media, this election was conducted without incident or incidents in Philadelphia.”

A local official was more direct: “I would defer to our DA’s comments on it to summarise: F*** around and find out”.

Parker asked people to “respect” election officials, adding “we will count every vote and every ballot, for as long as it takes.”

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As news networks started to announce the Harris campaign was underperforming in Pennsylvania, the mayor remained defiant. “We knew that the path to the White House had to come through the keystone state, and that meant you’d have to contend with our city,” which she referred to as “the birthplace of it all” — meaning American democracy.

The crowd seemed somewhat mollified, and as Parker hastily left the building, supporters tried to remain calm. “It’s not over yet,” people nervously reassured one another.

But 10 minutes later, the bar was only half full.

End of the line

By 1am, as Republicans partied at Trump’s victory event in Palm Beach, Florida, there were more reporters than supporters at the bar. Almost all officials had quietly but quickly cleared out. Brady, who had been so upbeat earlier on, stormed off alone down the street around midnight.

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Among those still watching the results as Harris’ prospects collapsed were a small group of young Danes, activists from their country’s Social Democratic Party who had travelled from Copenhagen to campaign for Harris.

“At the beginning of the night I was so excited, now I’m a bit depressed,” one activist told Euronews as he sat dejectedly in a corner.

Soon, they too filed out, heading home in a fleet of Ubers, and the remaining reporters did the same.

At around 2am, just before AP called Pennsylvania for Trump, an undertaker’s car blocked one of the cabs. The driver sounded his horn, and a large middle-aged man climbed out of the hearse.

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“You are going to need to reverse,” he shouted. “Someone has died. Have some respect”.