A Tale of Two Watch Parties: from Refreshments to Recount

As polls closed Tuesday at around 7 p.m., two very different election night events took place in the hotly contested Congressional District 27 in Miami.

In Key Biscayne, Republicans gathered at the restaurant Milanezza to show their support for incumbent Maria Elvira Salazar, the incumbent Republican. Meanwhile, at Pub 52 in the heart of Coral Gables, Democrats came together to support first-time Congressional candidate Eliott Rodriguez.

There is an irony to election night, creating divides while also bringing people closer together. At both venues, voters gathered with the same hope and anticipation for two very different results.

“I’m hoping the Democrats can at least take back the House, and it would be wonderful if we could also take the Senate. We need to start bringing change to this country and taking it back,” said Dr. Ana Roca, Professor of Spanish and Linguistics at Florida International University (FIU).

Another person at Rodriguez’s watch party, Michael Kesti, worried about whether Democrats could get the Senate as well as the House.

“A lot of Republicans are hesitant to go to the polls, but it’s unfortunate how close the Senate and the House are going to be,” said Kesti, Chairman for Government Relations Group, LLC, a lobbying group.

The scene was crowded from the start, filled with a diverse group of Democratic supporters that created a mix of well-heeled donors and earnest campaign volunteers in a cheerful and energetic atmosphere. Euphoric crowds would erupt in joy whenever the televisions lining the bar would show a new update with a Democratic candidate in the lead. It was an intersection of communities where people of different backgrounds and professions were brought together by the same goal.

“It’s fantastic. There’s so much great, positive energy. I think we all just want to scream because, first of all, it’s finally over, but also because we’re so excited for Elliot. He’s so deserving of this, and our community would be incredibly lucky to have him representing us,” said Carol Lindsey, a Key Biscayne resident wearing an Eliott Rodriguez t-shirt and buttons. She said she had spent her day campaigning in the village – a barrier island just south of Miami Beach.

Over in Key Biscayne, there wasn’t a parking spot to be found at Salazar’s watch party at Milanezza, because half the lot was flooded due to heavy rainfall on and in the days leading up to Election Day. That didn’t stop Salazar’s supporters from flooding into the restaurant.  

But whereas at Pub 52 there was an air of optimism in the room, at Milanezza, Salazar’s supporters were tense and stressed with not knowing how the night would go for the Republican party. They could see the blue wave rising on their screens, and the only question was how significantly it would hit this corner of Miami, which is nearly 75% Hispanic and leans heavily Republican.

Rodriguez arrived early in the evening on a bus, along with his campaign team and family. As he entered, he made his way through the crowd, stopping to greet and thank as many people as he could, whether they be new or familiar faces.

Salazar made her entrance at around 7 p.m., when she conducted a mic check on stage and later disappeared into the night until it was time to present her acceptance speech at 10 p.m. 

“I’m so incredibly proud of my husband,” Brenda Rodriguez, wife of Eliott Rodriguez, told CommunityWire. “He’s worked so hard, and his family and I are all in this with him. We’re so proud of how far he’s come. To make it this far and be in such a close race, separated by just hundreds of votes, is an accomplishment in itself.” 

As the night continued, Salazar’s numbers began to climb, and the mood at Rodriguez HQ began to shift. Slowly, that sense of optimism that filled the room earlier in the evening began to fade. Cheers didn't have the same sense of euphoria every time a screen would show a new update.

The opposite can be said of what was going on at Salazar’s HQ. Slowly the Florida results would come in, first it was Ashley Moody and her success in retaining a Senate seat. The bar erupted in support for the Republican party, and a sense of belief started flowing around the venue 

“I’m pretty confident. It’s going to be a closer race than we like, but I’m confident,” said Kesti. 

Then the big one: The Florida governor's results flashed on multiple TVs at Milanezza. At 9:09

PM, AP called it, announcing that Byron Donalds won the gubernatorial race. There was a sigh of relief for supporters, a moment that warranted celebration as the realization in the room struck and Florida maintained Republican control – at least of the governor’s mansion. This is when the open bar at Milanezza started flowing drinks. Supporters were hugging their loved ones like they won a war.  

As the night progressed and Salazar slowly pulled away into a small lead against Rodriguez, the incumbent finally made her way to the stage with her team and family, dancing all the way to the podium. Before she could even let out a word, the crowd started cheering like they were waiting to do all night.   

Her speech consisted of thanking her supporters and adding how proud she is to be a Republican, while also thanking Pres. Trump for liberating Venezuela. She added that Cuba will be next. 

The night ended in cheers and hugs, as many people thought the race was over and that Salazar had emerged as the victor, but that just wasn’t the case. By Florida law, an election win with less than 0.5% difference requires an automatic recount, allowing the uncertainty to continue and controversies to swirl.

With a difference of under 0.5%, the story is not over just yet. For two former journalists, it’s the kind of story they once might have loved to cover.

Eliott Rodriguez’s campaign asked Miami-Dade County supervisor of elections Alina Garcia to recuse herself from overseeing the recount, raising concerns about her impartiality due based on the argument that Salazar’s recount lawyer is Garcia’s son-in-law. Garcia declined to do so, and Rodriguez has since filed suit against her, asking a judge to force her to step down.

On Saturday, the Florida Department of State posted federal election results and officially ordered a recount, Florida Politics reported. It must be completed by Nov. 12. If a machine recount finds that the two candidates are within 0.25% of the total vote, state law will require a hand recount.

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