Election Day dawned in Los Angeles clear and sunny and full of promise — the promise of a closing page to a chapter many have come to dread.
While there was no surprise as to which way it would ultimately lean, the Democratic stronghold of California has not been spared loud predictions of apocalypse from both parties. So televisions and frayed nerves were tuned in to nail-biters such as Florida and Ohio. And some anxious locals even boarded flights to swing states like Nevada for last-minute volunteering.
Voters got in line at schools and churches and synagogues. They cast their ballots, and then they waited. As dark gathered, so did they, at homes and bars, convening to toast the health of the democratic process — or else to mourn its corpse. The glass was half empty or half full, but at least it was beer in the glass. Many were in need of a drink — and something, anything, worth offering a toast about.
As residents waited to see if Democrat Hillary Clinton or Republican Donald Trump would emerge victorious, the Journal canvassed the city to report on the anticipation, the unease and, yes, the excitement that accompanied this year’s remarkable election.
— Eitan Arom, Staff Writer
7:30 a.m. Congregation Mogen David
Izajah Gordon and Jordan Kessler react to news of Donald Trump taking Ohio. Photo by Oren Peleg
Some walked, some drove, but they all came ready to vote as the early November sunshine warmed the air. Upbeat and smiling, they didn’t even seem to mind that the line stretched out the door and about 20 yards down the block as they arrived in clothes alternately appropriate for work or a workout.
Julie Sergojian, a volunteer at the polling station, said she felt there was more excitement about this year’s race than four years ago, when she volunteered at Congregation Mogen David for the first time.
“This is a really important process and making sure everyone votes and has access to vote is very important,” she said, seated behind a long table in the shul’s lobby before a stack of pink provisional ballots.
Many arrived with their young children in tow, including Laura Delledonne, who stood in line with her 11-year-old son, Dante. So who would she vote for?
“I’m with her,” Delledonne said.
Dante, a sixth-grader, is a Clinton supporter, too, explaining, “She wants clean energy.”
Suzee Markowitz, co-owner of Factor’s Famous Deli, came with her son, Brandon Bank, 25.
“I’m very excited for this historic election,” Markowitz said after casting her vote for Clinton. “I came here with my 25-year-old son. I’m coming back with my 90-year-old mother.”
Khalev Zelaya, 42, a Latino-Jewish Pico-Robertson resident originally from El Salvador, said he supports Trump.
“I have some anxiety, positive anxiety coming here to vote and trying to choose the next president,” he said. “I know in California it’s hard to make a Republican win because we’re not too many, but yes, I am very positive.
“I am still going to exercise my vote,” he continued, “especially because in Latin America, you cannot do too much because over there, you go to vote and they kill you or elections are so corrupt. … But here in America, we still have that and I am going to use that and exercise my right today.”
— Ryan Torok, Staff Writer
11:41 a.m. PST (9:41 p.m. local time), Abraham’s Hostel, Tel Aviv
“Let’s make America great again!” shouts an 18-year-old Texan, standing near the DJ booth as three screens hover above the dance floor of the Abraham Hostel.
Tonight, Masa Israel Journey, which brings young adults to study, intern and volunteer in Israel for several months, united participants through an election viewing event expected to go until 2 a.m. local time (4 p.m. in Los Angeles). Another participant repeats Trump’s campaign slogan.
“I don’t know who’s being sarcastic anymore,” says 24-year-old Michigan native Josh Linden, currently teaching English in Israel. He cast his absentee vote for Clinton. “I haven’t met anyone here voting for him yet but I haven’t been asking.” (The Texan, by the way, voted for Clinton.)
As a DJ tried to rev up the crowd with some hip-hop, with results still hours away, most of the people were lounging around, schmoozing over beer, or playing pool or table soccer. None seemed too worried about the United States, either way.
Maybe their comfort playing “Israeli” for the past two months has contributed to a feeling of detachment in the air. And while Abraham Hostel is so named for being a place that fosters peace among people, the crowd doesn’t seem to need the reconciliatory touch. Judging from a straw poll, Sara Eisen, the program’s chief communications officer, said most of the participants are Clinton supporters. But she attributes their laid-back attitude tonight to the nature of the program.
“I think, in general, people come to Israel to grow and to expand and to change — minds are wider,” she said.
Max Moser, 27, of Los Angeles and currently a fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem, didn’t want to reveal his choice.
“I’m not excited about the election like most Americans,” he said. “I feel like there’s really a lack of leadership in the United States government.”
Does this make him more inclined to make aliyah? Israel’s newest holiday, Aliyah Day, celebrating immigration to Israel, fell on Nov. 8.
“I’m considering aliyah but not because of the national election, at all.”
— Orit Arfa, Contributing Writer
3 p.m. PST (1 a.m. local time), Mike’s Place, Jerusalem
An hour before the initial election results, attorney Marc Zell, co-chairman of Republicans Overseas Israel, took out a chart of American states and crunched numbers. He predicted Trump would take Kentucky, Indiana, Georgia and South Carolina — that’s 44 electoral votes.
“If Georgia is too close to call, that’s a bad sign,” he said.
He entered the main hall of the iconic Mike’s Place on Jaffa Street in Jerusalem to optimistic greeters. He was carrying a box of “Make America Great Again” caps to give out to some 200 Trump supporters and volunteers who united here tonight, although some were already wearing them, like William Eicoff, a resident of the city of Ariel in the West Bank and proud Florida voter.
He had volunteered to contact Jewish communities in his region to encourage residents to vote. As an independent, he voted for Gary Johnson in the last election. Not this time.
“I know Trump supports Israel and I know he’s a builder,” he said, hoping this translates into more support for building Jewish settlements in “Judea and Samaria,” his preferred terms. “But another thing he said that I hope happens is that he moves the embassy to Jerusalem.”
Jerusalem-based author/writer hailing from New York, Zahava Englard is on the “Trump train” in large part because of his tough stance on radical Islam.
“My No. 1 concern is the relationship between the United States and Israel, and I have to say that I do believe that there is a Clinton cartel.”
She doesn’t even want to consider a Clinton victory. “You need hope to keep living.”
By 1:22 a.m. local time, there was room for hope. The crowd cheered as Kentucky and Indiana went for Trump, but the fact that Georgia was too close to call had Zell concerned.
But less than two hours later, swing states Florida, Pennsylvania and Ohio were also too close to call. Yiscah Shechter, a Jerusalem resident of 27 years, was nervous, but comforted.
“God runs the world,” she said. “Whoever’s going to win will do whatever He wants.”
– Orit Arfa, Contributing Writer
5:30 p.m. UCLA Wilson Plaza
More than 750 people attended an election watch party at UCLA. Photo by Olga Grigoryants
Think young people aren’t interested in politics? Don’t tell that to the hundreds of Bruins who gathered in front of three large screens to follow election results.
More than 750 students and faculty gathered for a night of food and politics. Some munched on pizza, popcorn, sandwiches and salads, while others danced in front of screens as a DJ played songs by Drake and Rihanna.
Antonio Sandoval, director of the UCLA Community Programs Office, said he didn’t expect so many people could attend the watch party, but the vibes were all good.
“It’s a happy and diverse crowd,” he said. “Students enjoy celebrating the election in the shared environment.”
Still, Muhammad Bilal, an assistant researcher at UCLA, said it’s been painful to watch the presidential election as a member of the Muslim community.
“Trump said so many disrespectful things about Muslims,” he said.
Sana Rahim, an MBA student, said she voted for Clinton even though she didn’t see a lot of support for the Muslim community from her.
“Hillary said the Muslim community is a good resource to fight terrorism, but we are not [a] resource, we are people,” she said.
Joseph Yasmeh, a physiology and anthropology major, said he is surprised many Americans are voting for Trump after he made so many racist comments.
“It’s a little bit scary now,” said Yasmeh, who is Jewish. “But it’s going to be OK.”
Kathy Zhao, a student from China who studies economics at UCLA, said she doesn’t have the right to vote as an international student, but she was rooting for Trump. “Trump is very popular in China and people like him there,” she said. “He is also a handsome man, and I hope he will become an American president.”
— Olga Grigoryants, Contributing Writer
7:30 p.m. The Parlor, Hollywood
The nametags couldn’t help but promote conversation: “Nasty Woman,” “#repealthedeathpenalty” and “Prop 64.”
As if there weren’t enough buzzwords being bandied about on 50 television screens tuned to Fox News, MSNBC and CNN, the dozens of millenials who arrived at this Hollywood sports bar were asked to fill out nametags with the name of a candidate, proposition or election catchphrase.
Brought together by 30 Years After, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that promotes the civic engagement and communal involvement of Los Angeles’ Iranian Jews, some were Election Day veterans; others, like Sandy Elyassian, 27, a 30 Years After board member and nursing student, were voting in a presidential election for the first time.
While Elyassian declined to reveal who she voted for in the hotly contested race for the White House, she said casting her ballot hours earlier made the night’s results far more meaningful than elections past — not to mention more exciting.
“Knowing that I voted today and didn’t vote in the past has me feeling the suspense of it in the moment,” Elyassian said. “I voted today and the results are coming in today. It’s more powerful. I definitely feel more invested in what’s going on. It’s getting more and more exciting to find out who the next president is going to be.”
Not everyone was obsessed with the presidential results. 30 Years After board member and pharmacy student Miriam Eshaghian, 24, sported a nametag reading “Prop 61.” On this night, Eshaghian’s gaze was more fixed on ballot propositions like the Drug Price Standards Initiative than the tense results rolling in from close battleground states such as Ohio and Florida.
“I’m in pharmacy school so Prop. 61 is very closely related to my field of study,” Eshaghian said. “I have my thoughts on the presidential election but things like Prop. 61 are more important to me.”
And then there was the politician who grabbed attention for different reasons. Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa made a brief appearance, posing for photos and engaging with guests. 30 Years After president Sam Yebri was thrilled to have the former mayor in attendance.
“Having [Villaraigosa] here shows the affection that he has for the Iranian-Jewish community and the great strides we’ve made to build political relationships in our city,” Yebri said.
– Oren Peleg, Contributing Writer
8 p.m., Kibitz Room, Canter’s Deli
Election watchers at the Kibitz Room. Photo by Jeffrey Hensiek
It started as a party, it ended as shiva.
At the Jewish Journal Election Night Watch Party at the Kibitz Room at Canter’s Deli on Fairfax Avenue, a packed room nursed drinks and watched two television monitors unspool the results. On CNN, Wolf Blitzer called Florida for Donald Trump.
“I’m feeling sick to my stomach. Like, literally, I don’t feel well,” a 30-something young woman said to no one in particular.
The night didn’t start out that way. As people filtered in to the tight bar, Clinton was already struggling in Florida and Ohio. The iPhones immediately came out and election watchers compared tweets from pollsters Nate Silver and Nate Cohen as they nursed beers.
CNN called Colorado for Clinton, the crowd cheered. Then Blitzer called Florida for Trump. A four-letter word exploded across the bar. A woman who runs a women’s-centric website ordered a straight tequila.
“People are angry,” she explained. “They feel left out. I get it.”
At another table, three twentysomething Jewish women tried to think of how many friends they had who had voted for the man who now looked to be the next president of the United States.
“Maybe one or two,” one of the woman said.
“I just don’t get it,” her friend said.
The word “Brexit” got bandied about. There were dark jokes about heading for Vancouver, Israel or Mexico — for good. Someone read aloud a tweet from the writer Peter Beinart, who pointed out that exit polls showed the vast majority of Jewish Americans voted for Hillary.
“I’ve never felt more Jewish and less American,” Beinart wrote.
The room stayed lively but the thoughts grew darker. Attorney Jon Drucker said he wasn’t completely surprised. For one, people tend to live in their bubbles. And that 70 percent chance the two Nates gave Clinton of winning just one day earlier?
“If someone told you there was a 30 percent you’d die in a horrible car crash,” Drucker asked, “would you get in the car?”
– Staff Report
8 p.m. Culver Studios, Culver City
From left, Ilan Greenwald and David Levitus place phone calls to battleground states on behalf of Hillary Clinton. Photo by Ryan Torok
“This is for all the women and all the girls all over the world!”
Sariel Taylor Pindo, 22, traveled to Los Angeles from Australia and has been volunteering for the Clinton campaign since July — and the Jewish woman was back at it again on Election Day at the candidate’s Get Out the Vote staging location.
Passion for the Democratic candidate and disdain for Republican candidate Donald Trump was on display throughout the day and night at the location, as Clinton supporters like Pindo placed phone calls to voters in battlegroundstates such as North Carolina, Florida, Michigan, Nevada, Arizona, Wisconsin and Colorado.
“I’m here to stand up for my values and defeat a fascist,” IKAR congregant David Levitus said, seated at a table dotted with discarded bottles of water, crumpled paper plates and red cups filled with markers and pens.
A tense urgency to place as many phone calls as possible before the polls closed in Nevada had gripped the group earlier, which numbered approximately 100 people and included many women wearing “Nasty Woman” T-shirts. Volunteers busied themselves on laptops and cellphones, imploring those on the receiving end of their calls to hurry to the polls.
At 7:15 p.m., everyone stopped making calls: The polls had officially closed in all of the battleground states. The volume of the television, which was running PBS, was turned up. A keg of beer was opened. The smell of hot pizza filled the room.
Venice resident Mary Jane Wagle passed out condoms labeled “Planned Parenthood” and “Protect Yourself from Trump.” A chant, “I believe she will win!” greeted the news that Clinton had won by 1 percent in Virginia. The mood soured, however, amid reports that Clinton had lost Florida and Ohio.
“This is not what we would have liked it to look like,” Janice Littlejohn, a Clinton supporter, said at 8:30 p.m., eyes glued to the television. “But it’s not over.”
– Ryan Torok, Contributing Writer
8:30 p.m. Rococo Room, Pasadena
Polls closed in California at 8 p.m. By 8:30 p.m., the second floor of the upscale Rococo Room in Old Pasadena was packed with well-dressed men and women who came to toast the hopeful victory of Donald Trump and two local Republicans, state senate candidate Mike Antonovich and Katherine Barger, running for L.A. County supervisor.
The atmosphere was jubilant: Florida had just been called for Trump.
“Feels good tonight,” said Allen Brandstater, who sat at the back of the room wearing a pin depicting Ronald Reagan clad in a cowboy hat.
Trump was not Brandstater’s first choice, or even his third. A longtime conservative who campaigned for Barry Goldwater in 1964 and who served five times as the press secretary for Antonovich’s campaigns, he favored Ben Carson in the primary. But the seeming success of Trump’s electoral insurgency told him the tide was turning in American politics.
“By and large — and I think tonight indicates — people are annoyed with the Beltway establishment class,” he said.
The crowd milled around him: Journalists snapping photos and jotting notes, supporters mobbing the candidates to offer congratulations and attractive young Republicans dressed formally, mingling under the exposed wood beams as servers wound their way through carrying hors d’oeuvres. Partygoers traded news about how swing states were swinging and how the local races fared: Antonovich’s fate was uncertain, but Barger was leading her nearest competitor by a wide margin.
The room grew progressively more lighthearted as drinks flowed and red blossomed over the electoral map on the screens over the bar, tuned to CNN. Brandstater was confident of a Trump victory.
He leaned in and said, “It’s the best night to be a Republican since the night Ronald Reagan and Mike Antonovich were elected in November of 1980.”
– Eitan Arom, Contributing Writer
From left: Cheryl Saban, actress Rosanna Arquette and Haim Saban attend the FIDF Western Region gala. Photo courtesy of FIDF
Rabbi Pamela Frydman, recipient of the Global Citizens Award. Photo courtesy of Rabbi Pamela Frydman
