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As the first polls closed on Tuesday, Wellesley students gathered at watch parties around campus to follow the live polling results for one of the closest presidential elections in US history.

Throughout the night, Trump’s lead over Harris is widening, especially on key battlegrounds like Georgia and North Carolina. The New York Times live presidential forecast now shows Trump leading in 6 out of 7 swing states and projects nearly a 90% chance for Trump to win this election.

Gathered in Tower Great Hall for the Wellesley College Democrat’s watch party, Wellesley students reacted to Trump’s leading advantage and potential victory.

I didn’t think we were going to blow it out of the water, but I thought we actually might have a shot,” said Grace Hennessy ’26, President of the College Democrats. “ I did have a little bit of hope coming into it and now I feel that’s dashed.”

When asked how viewers felt after this gap, the general sentiment was devastation.

“It’s kind of scary to see all the states turn red, and seeing the swing states turn red. I’m just really upset that after all the stuff he said, people are still voting for him,” said Caroline Min ’27, a viewer at the watch party.

International students sympathized with their American friends about the projected outcome, but also were concerned about how the election would affect them.

“From an international perspective, I’m concerned about the global impact that this might have in terms of war, stocks, and women’s rights. It’s just not looking very good right now,” said Khyatee Atolia ’27, who is from Nepal.

However, despite the odds stacked against Harris, some people are still latching on to some hope.

“I’m doing math, like it’s not all bad. But yes, I have a little bit more hope. But we’ll see what happens,” Atolia said.

Campus gathers

This election cycle marks a highly contentious presidential race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.

The Committee of Political Engagement (CPE), a nonpartisan organization, and the Wellesley College Democrats both hosted watch parties, in Pendleton East Atrium and the other in Tower Court Great Hall respectively. 

At the CPE watch party, cheers were heard during calls for states for Harris with some boos when some states were called for Trump. Lots of applause rang out after Maryland passed the ballot measure on reproductive freedom.
The Wellesley News spoke to multiple students attending the CPE election watch party. Many emphasized how the event brought the community closer together. 

This is the first in-person presidential watch party after the Wellesley community gathered to watch alumna Hillary Clinton ’69 on election night in 2016.

Miranda Christ ’25 said that she “prefers being here than alone sitting in [her] room,” describing attending the event as a “solidarity moment.”

 Quinn Pruiksma ’25 shared a similar sentiment, saying that there was “something about [having] solidarity when it’s such a tumultuous election.”

In the toss-up race, Wellesley students continued to feel stressed about the presidential outcome. 

“I am stressed about the results of this presidential election because I know it will deeply affect people who I care about. I just hope that the results that I want to see happen, and I also hope that everyone at the school takes care of themselves and their mental health,” said Political Engagement Chair Margaret Huai ’26, who organized the CPE watch party.

Stress remained high at the events as Trump maintained a slight early lead in the late evening. 

“There’s a lot at stake with this election. It’s kind of hard to fathom what will happen if Trump does win,” said Niharika Wangikar ’28, who attended the CPE watch party.

Multiple political organizations conducted events to prepare for this year’s contentious election.

The Wellesley College Democrats sent students to canvas in Pennsylvania last weekend and in Maine two weekends ago. CPE tabled to help with voter registration every week after every House Council in different dorm locations on campus and hosted the Wellesley town clerk, K.C. Kato, to do a public notary session for those who needed a notary signature on their absentee ballots.

When it came to considering what would happen after the election on the Wellesley campus, some students emphasized that the connection between students would continue. Clare Gibson ‘’27 believed there would be “unity either way” among Wellesley students. 

Some students had concerns about what would happen after the election. Christ anticipated worrying about violence in the next two and half months after the election was called. Trynitee Fallon ‘’27 stated that there would be “long-term anxiety” pent up on campus from the election, regardless of how the race is called.

Contact the editor responsible for this story: Sazma Sarwar

(Updates were added on students’ reactions to Trump’s leads in polling results.)