Election night: D.C. celebrates Obama’s victory

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

(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