The Republicans in the ballroom at the Hyatt in Bellevue weren't expecting this. They showed up late, and bowls of popcorn sat alone on tables. The scene was glum.
The polls, after all, had put Democratic hopeful Hillary Clinton way, way ahead.
Election results 2016: Inslee remains governor
Early in the night some Trump supporters like Michael Chaffey of Woodinville held back: “I gotta wait. Is it going to be a pity drink or a celebration drink, right?”
Said Gary Allason, speaking with a KIRO TV reporter: "The American public is tired of the corruption that surrounds the Clintons."
And then the good news for Donald Trump really started to roll in: “Are we having fun yet?” Washington State GOP Chairman Susan Hutchison asked the crowd.
Hutchison has been a staunch Trump supporter all year, and even made national news when she called Senator Ted Cruz a "traitor" at the Republican National Convention for not endorsing Donald Trump.
[asset-images[{"caption": "Lorraine Terpening at the Washington State Republicans watch party Nov. 8, 2016 at the Hyatt Regency in Bellevue.", "fid": "131440", "style": "placed_full", "uri": "public://201611/0034.JPG", "attribution": "Credit Daniel Berman for KUOW"}]]
[asset-images[{"caption": "Supporters of Donald Trump await final vote results late into the night during the Washington State Republicans watch party Nov. 8, 2016 at the Hyatt Regency in Bellevue.", "fid": "131441", "style": "placed_full", "uri": "public://201611/0033.JPG", "attribution": "Credit Daniel Berman for KUOW"}]]
But on Tuesday in Bellevue, it was a very different mood: “There’s a message being sent here today, and it’s not Republican vs Democrat, it’s the common man vs. the elites. I’ve seen this over and over and over in the last few months."
And Hutchison believes the election results should be a wakeup call for liberal leaders in Seattle:
“If there’s one thing the people in Seattle have to start paying attention to, it’s the folks out there who are suffering right now with a lot of their bad policies, whether it’s property taxes going up, whether it’s the homeless situation, whether it’s jobs. All of these experiments they’re trying in Seattle have harmed regular people.”
[asset-images[{"caption": "The crowd cheers as Florida is called for the Republicans during the Washington State Republicans watch party Nov. 8, 2016 at the Hyatt Regency in Bellevue.", "fid": "131370", "style": "placed_full", "uri": "public://201611/0015.JPG", "attribution": "Credit Daniel Berman for KUOW"}]]But the message sent by Washington State voters last night is more of a mixed bag for Republicans. Democrat Hillary Clinton took the state. Democratic Senator Patty Murray defeated Republican Chris Vance. And Democratic Governor Jay Inslee defeated Republican Bill Bryant.
[asset-images[{"caption": "Friends hug after news is announced that Trump won Florida.", "fid": "131371", "style": "placed_full", "uri": "public://201611/0018.JPG", "attribution": "Credit Daniel Berman for KUOW"}]]This inability to win the biggest statewide offices has led some Republicans to call for a new direction in the state party, with messages that appeal to people all over the state.
[asset-images[{"caption": "Cheryl Paysen looks at a screen displaying election results during the Washington State Republicans watch party Tuesday in Bellevue.", "fid": "131381", "style": "placed_full", "uri": "public://201611/0027.JPG", "attribution": "Credit Daniel Berman for KUOW"}]]Meanwhile, the Democrats at the Westin in downtown Seattle...
[asset-images[{"caption": "Democrats at the Westin in downtown Seattle as Donald Trump started winning states.", "fid": "131372", "style": "placed_full", "uri": "public://201611/dems.jpg", "attribution": "Credit KUOW Photo/Deborah Wang"}]][asset-images[{"caption": "Susan Hutchinson announces winning Republican trending results in Washington elections alongside Washington state Republican Party Political Director Jake Braunger during the Washington State Republicans watch party Tuesday at the Hyatt Regency in Bellevue. ", "fid": "131375", "style": "placed_wide", "uri": "public://201611/0023.JPG", "attribution": "Credit Daniel Berman for KUOW"}]]
[asset-images[{"caption": "Gary Allason and Mary Allason speak with a reporter from KIRO Television during the Washington State Republicans watch party at the Hyatt Regency in Bellevue. ", "fid": "131376", "style": "placed_full", "uri": "public://201611/0007_0.JPG", "attribution": "Credit Daniel Berman for KUOW"}]]
[asset-images[{"caption": "Cheers at the Hyatt in Bellevue during the Republican watch party on Election Night.", "fid": "131377", "style": "placed_full", "uri": "public://201611/0014.JPG", "attribution": "Credit Daniel Berman for KUOW"}]][asset-images[{"caption": "Matthew Eusterman hands out flags during the Washington State Republicans watch party Nov. 8, 2016 at the Hyatt Regency in Bellevue.", "fid": "131382", "style": "placed_full", "uri": "public://201611/0030.JPG", "attribution": "Credit Daniel Berman for KUOW"}]]
[asset-images[{"caption": "Perennial presidential candidate Goodspaceguy speaks with Drew Carlson and his brother, Matthew Carlson at the Hyatt in Bellevue on Election Night.", "fid": "131378", "style": "placed_wide", "uri": "public://201611/0010_0.JPG", "attribution": "Credit Daniel Berman for KUOW"}]]
[asset-images[{"caption": "Trump supporter Terry Marten at the Washington State Republicans watch party.", "fid": "131379", "style": "placed_wide", "uri": "public://201611/0021.JPG", "attribution": "Credit Daniel Berman for KUOW"}]]
