From the Democratic State Committee to the square
outside the White House, D.C. residents and
visitors gathered to watch the election and
celebrate the outcome.
Meagan McCanna, 26, (left) and Katie Donnell, 22, at a Republican watch party at Molly Malone's in Capitol Hill. Both work for a Wisconsin Rep. Tom Petri and voted for Romney. "We need change in this country," McCanna said Tuesday night around 8 p.m. (WTOP/Stephanie Steinberg)
WTOP/Stephanie Steinberg
Spencer Pederson, 29, of the District, showed off his support for candidate Mitt Romney on his shirt. "I think Mitt Romney is the candidate who is ready to embrace the free market to get people back to work and get the economy going again," he said at a Republican watch party Tuesday night. (WTOP/Stephanie Steinberg)
WTOP/Stephanie Steinberg
D.C. Council candidate Republican Mary Brooks Beatty talks with longtime friend and supporter Amy Horner, 37, of D.C., at her watch party at Molly Malone's.
Beatty said she thought the D.C. Council race could go late into the night. "There are so many candidates, the vote is going to be so split," she said. "It's going to be a very interesting race." (WTOP/Stephanie Steinberg)
WTOP/Stephanie Steinberg
A band called "Blackface" played at the Red Lounge on 14th Street in D.C. as election results were displayed behind them. "Big Daddy," the lead guitarist and band organizer, said he voted for Obama in the election.
"This is historic to have a black president...we've never seen anything other than white people so to have a black president is the greatest thing to ever happen," he said. (WTOP/Stephanie Steinberg)
WTOP/Stephanie Steinberg
The D.C. chapter of the NAACP partnered with Forward Vision Group to host an election watch party at Jin bar on 14th Street in D.C.
Around 9:30 p.m., Darryl Ward, an organizer of the event, said he didn't think the election results would be announced any time soon.
"(The results are) probably going to come down not until tomorrow," Ward said. "They'll probably have to count overnight. I think it's going to be very close though."(WTOP/Stephanie Steinberg)
WTOP/Stephanie Steinberg
District resident Heather Cabral, 32, reacts as CNN calls Florida for Barack Obama. Cabral went to Jin Bar on 14th Street to watch the election results. She said she voted for Obama because her values fall in line with his policies. "As a woman, I support what Barack Obama has on his platform regarding women's issues," she said. (WTOP/Stephanie Steinberg)
WTOP/Stephanie Steinberg
VIDEO
(WTOP/Stephanie Steinberg)
Locals line up inside Ben's Chilli Bowl on U Street election night. The restaurant is known to be one of Obama's favorite eateries in D.C. (WTOP/Stephanie Steinberg)
WTOP/Stephanie Steinberg
Jenna Kelly, a 20 year-old American University student from N.J., stopped at Ben's Chili Bowl around 10 p.m. after attending an election party nearby. She watched the election returns on a TV in the corner while waiting for a hot dog. "It's a favorite of Obama's so I figured I should stop in," she said.
On her outfit choice: "I decided to just go with patriotism at-large," she said. (WTOP/Stephanie Steinberg)
WTOP/Stephanie Steinberg
The D.C. Democratic State Committee gathered some
of the city's most active Democrats to cheer on
Obama and other local candidates Tuesday night.
(WTOP/Heather Brady)
WTOP/Heather Brady
Those who attended were watching, captivated, as
the results came in. (WTOP/Heather Brady)
WTOP/Heather Brady
Jack Evans won re-election to his Ward 2 seat on the D.C. Council.(WTOP/Heather Brady)
WTOP/Heather Brady
Candles decorated the Hyatt Regency room where
the event was held, symbolizing the hope many felt
throughout the night. (WTOP/Heather Brady)
WTOP/Heather Brady
Eleanor Holmes Norton was re-elected as D.C.'s
delegate to Congress. (WTOP/Heather Brady)
WTOP/Heather Brady
Those who attended were watching, captivated, as
the results came in. (WTOP/Heather Brady)
WTOP/Heather Brady
Those who attended were watching, captivated, as
the results came in. (WTOP/Heather Brady)
WTOP/Heather Brady
D.C. Mayor Vince Gray arrived just in time to hear
the results of the presidential election.
(WTOP/Heather Brady)
WTOP/Heather Brady
When Obama reached 274 Electoral College votes and
the news networks projected him as the winner, the
room erupted in cheers. (WTOP/Heather Brady)
WTOP/Heather Brady
When Obama reached 274 Electoral College votes and
the news networks projected him as the winner, the
room erupted in cheers. (WTOP/Heather Brady)
WTOP/Heather Brady
D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray poses with Obama supporters for a photo after news of the president's reelection. Gray was one of several local leaders who attended the Democratic State Committee watch party at the Hyatt Tuesday night. (WTOP/Stephanie Steinberg)
WTOP/Stephanie Steinberg
Barack Obama supporters embrace after Obama is reelected president of the United States. (WTOP/Stephanie Steinberg)
WTOP/Stephanie Steinberg
At the White House, people streamed in from all
directions, singing, hugging and yelling, "Four
more years!" (WTOP/Heather Brady)
WTOP/Heather Brady
At the White House, people streamed in from all
directions, singing, hugging and yelling, "Four
more years!" (WTOP/Heather Brady)
WTOP/Heather Brady
At the White House, people streamed in from all
directions, singing, hugging and yelling, "Four
more years!" (WTOP/Heather Brady)
WTOP/Heather Brady
There were flags of all kinds, from the D.C. flag
to an LGBT support flag to one depicting the Obama
campaign's signature circular logo. (WTOP/Heather
Brady)
Drivers along 15th Street near the White House
honked, waved, hoisted flags out of their windows
and stood up through the sunroof to cheer.
(WTOP/Heather Brady)
WTOP/Heather Brady
Drivers along 15th Street near the White House
honked, waved, hoisted flags out of their windows
and stood up through the sunroof to cheer.
(WTOP/Heather Brady)
WTOP/Heather Brady
At the White House, people streamed in from all
directions, singing, hugging and yelling, "Four
more years!" (WTOP/Heather Brady)
WTOP/Heather Brady
Obama supporters flocked to the White House carrying flags and campaign signs.(WTOP/Stephanie Steinberg)
WTOP/Stephanie Steinberg
One supporter held up a poster of Barack Obama, which became an object for many photos. (WTOP/Stephanie Steinberg)
WTOP/Stephanie Steinberg
Younger Obama supporters hugged and waved their hands as they shouted in celebration outside the White House. (WTOP/Stephanie Steinberg)
WTOP/Stephanie Steinberg
The crowded erupted in clapping and cheering whenever someone started up the chant "four more years!"(WTOP/Stephanie Steinberg)
WTOP/Stephanie Steinberg
A supporter holds up an Obama campaign sign in front of the White House. (WTOP/Stephanie Steinberg)
WTOP/Stephanie Steinberg
Students from Catholic University show their support for Obama with a message on a white board. (WTOP/Stephanie Steinberg)
WTOP/Stephanie Steinberg
Several people climbed on top of an elevated platform and started chanting "four more years!" across from the White House.(WTOP/Stephanie Steinberg)
WTOP/Stephanie Steinberg
Around 12:30 am. the Obama supporters on the platform attracted television crews and continued to get the crowd riled up outside the White House.(WTOP/Stephanie Steinberg)
WTOP/Stephanie Steinberg
A group of women brought red and blue balloons to the celebration.(WTOP/Stephanie Steinberg)
WTOP/Stephanie Steinberg
A woman climbed into a tree kitty-corner to the White House and posed for photos as people took pictures of her. (WTOP/Stephanie Steinberg)
WTOP/Stephanie Steinberg
A woman on her way to the rally outside the White House around 12:30 a.m.(WTOP/Stephanie Steinberg)
WTOP/Stephanie Steinberg
A group of men give high-fives to strangers as they rush toward the White House shortly after 12:30 a.m.(WTOP/Stephanie Steinberg)
WTOP/Stephanie Steinberg