An evening of high hopes at the Democratic-Farmer-Labor election party turned to uncertainty as Hillary Clinton slipped behind Donald Trump in electoral votes.

Attendees at the DFL’s election soiree, held at the Hilton hotel in downtown Minneapolis, sported pink shirts, red pantsuits and ‘nasty woman’ pins in support of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

Some members of the College Democrats club from the University of St. Thomas who had come as a group to the election party expressed optimism and excitement at the start of the night.

“I thought it would be a really good experience to see other people who are as passionate about politics as I am and to hopefully see Hillary make history,” first-year student Katherine Barrett said.

First-year student Logan Monahan echoed the idea that the party was a great place for Democrats to gather and share thoughts on the election.

“I think it’s really exciting because for once you can go around and share your views with everyone and not have to second-guess if maybe your views will be opposing,” Monahan said. “Now that we’re here, you just feel comfortable with everyone in the area.”

“It’s really cool to see people of so many different ages and identities and see them all come together to support one cause and to overall support our country,” Barrett added.

Politicians from Rep. Erin Murphy to St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman to Sen. Amy Klobuchar spoke intermittently throughout the night, touting progress the incumbent DFL party had made in Minnesota and expressing optimism at electing more DFL candidates to office.

The audience reacted the loudest when speakers expressed pride that Clinton was the first female presidential nominee. A common theme was that Clinton’s campaign showed young girls that they too could run for president.

“When she accepted the nomination, little girls across the state and across the nation knew they could do anything,” Klobuchar said, to cheers from the audience.

Buoyed by Minnesotan politicians’ enthusiastic speeches and pop music pumping throughout the ballroom, attendees’ initial optimism that the country would elect the first female president was dampened as large TV screens broadcasted Trump’s increasing momentum.

The speakers picked up on the growing tension in the room and expressed cautious reassurance.

“You guys, we’re going to win,” said Betsy Hodges, mayor of Minneapolis, trying to rally the progressively discouraged crowd.

Even though Clinton lost, Democrats were still invigorated by local election victories such as new state representative Ilhan Omar, the first Somali-American legislator ever elected in the United States.

“It’s really amazing,” said St. Thomas 2013 grad Sadaf Rahmani. “She’s such an amazing woman, and as a woman of color, as a refugee, as all of these different categories, she’s just done such amazing work, and I’m so proud of her, and I’m so happy that she won.”

Around 10:30 p.m., after the Minnesota polls closed, high school student Ingrid Zoll of Minneapolis said the mood had noticeably shifted.

“I think the environment here is trying to be really positive, but I’m really nervous,” Zoll said. “I’m just really anxious to see how this is going to turn out because I’d really love if we had a female president.”

To read TommieMedia’s coverage of the Republican victory party click here.

For video coverage of both events click here.

Sophie Carson can be reached at sophia.carson@stthomas.edu.