“There’s absolutely boundless enthusiasm right now,” Sam Dulik (SFS ’13), a member of the Georgetown University College Republicans, said Tuesday night. Dulik and his fellow College Republicans were celebrating the midterm election results and the return of Republican control of the House of Representatives in Village C Alumni Lounge.
Cheering each time an election was called for a Republican, the students in Alumni Lounge snacked on chicken wings and cupcakes. Across campus, in Sellinger Lounge, Georgetown’s College Democrats were more subdued. Members discussed the results with each other quietly, and some did homework. Cheers were rare and mild.
College Republicans rejoiced Tuesday night as their party retook the House.
“We did what we could,” Sam Solomon (SFS ‘12), the College Democrats’ campaign co-coordinator, said as the Democrats racked up losses.
Before Tuesday night, both political organizations left the D.C. metropolitan area to campaign and canvass in contested states and districts. While College Republicans travelled to liberal-leaning New Jersey, the Democrats went to Louisville, Ky. and Philadelphia, Pa.
“We took two vans out there and drove all night,” Solomon said. “The Louisville people really appreciated that we had come so far.”
Solomon had coordinated the trip, in which College Democrats campaigned for local candidates and Jack Conway, the unsuccessful Democratic candidate for Kentucky Senator.
On Tuesday, Republicans cheered as Jon Runyan, a candidate they had campaigned for, won New Jersey’s third congressional district.
“We did door-to-door visibility, and we met the candidate,” Dulik said. “He’s a terrific guy, incredibly nice, a small businessman, and he’s never run for office before.”
As of Wednesday night, Northern Virginia’s closely-contested 11th District congressional race remained too close to call. The district, which includes most of Fairfax County, was a battleground for Georgetown’s competing political organizations. College Democrats campaigned for Gerry Connolly, who holds a slim lead over Republican Keith Fimian, the candidate supported by the College Republicans.
College Democrats said they faced a hostile electoral climate this year, and many campaigns lacked the vitality Democrats shared two years ago. They added that Democrats’ control of Congress and the Presidency forced volunteers to frequently defend the record of the last two years.
“I think that in 2008, it was a lot easier,” College Democrats President Bryan Woll (COL ’12) said. “We were running a campaign of change and hope.”
Regardless of the uncertain outcome of a few remaining races, College Republicans said they were ecstatic.
“The energy has been above anything we have seen since 2004,” Colin Cortes (COL ’13), the treasurer of the College Republicans, said. “Hopefully we keep that energy into 2011 and 2012 so we can take back the Presidency and the Senate.”
