The blow-by-blow accounts are all below. Long story short: State voters decided—with a $22 million assist from Costco—that state-run liquor stores must close and, in June of next year, large grocery stores can begin to carry hard liquor. Meanwhile, Tim Eyman's anti-light-rail, anti-tolling measure is failing by a narrow margin, and the SEIU's health-care worker initative is passing easily.

So liquor and health care are looking up; initiative trolls, not so much.

In Seattle, our $232 million school levy is passing while $60 car tabs to fund transportation improvement crashed and burned. All the council incumbents look set for another term—though Jean Godden challenger Bobby Forch hasn't yet thrown in the hanky—and most of the Seattle School Board incumbents are winning. One clear exception: School board challenger Marty McLaren has a decent lead over Steve Sundquist.

Additional results posted tomorrow at 4:30 p.m., then the day after, etc.

There's lots more on tonight's shebang, all below. Drink it up. For Costco!

A Lotta Love for Ferguson | 10:08 p.m.

SECB arrived at the Dian Ferguson party at Oskar's to find a fairly subdued scene. The news was not good—Ferguson was trailing council incumbent Sally Clark by a two-to-one margin—but Ferguson's fans were upbeat. One cheerful woman put on a brave face: "It's just something like 24% reporting, isn't it? It could still be anybody!" Ferguson is a little more realistic. "I'm doing good," she says, "and I'm happy that this is coming to an end." Has she learned anything in this whole process? "You really know who your friends are." And what is she going to do tomorrow? "Take a little vacation. I love the holidays, so I'm going to do some decorating and some cooking." She looks downright relieved that his is over. "Campaigning takes up a lot of your time," she says.

The bar is now holding a couple dozen very nice people; a pleasant older woman tells me, when I take the seat under the TV, that I got the best seat in the house, and that she and her husband had a date at that very table a couple weeks ago. There are some roast beef and sausage sandwiches on trays, cocktail music is playing over the speakers, Ferguson is drinking a cute pink beverage and laughing with her friends, and everything feels delightfully low-stress and happy. SECB has fallen for Dian Ferguson, hard. We're going to need a new mayor in a couple years, aren't we?

Lame Party Just Foreplay to a Night of Sexy Lovemaking | 9:34 p.m.

We get to the Family and Education Levy party at SODO's Elysian Fields, ready to party with city council incumbents Clark, Burgess, and Rasmussen (who promised to show) and ed-loving nerds like school board incumbent Peter Maier, only to find the bar populated with a few smirking, middle-aged white rubes in blazers and no absolutely no pseudo-celebrities to speak of. Also: no food, no one drinking…

But Mayor Mike McGinn is here. So, mayor, how do you plan on celebrating this stunning victory for education?

“You know what? I really want to see my kids,” he said. “After that, I’ll catch up on election results from across the state and then my favorite thing of all...”

“Making sweet love to your wife?” we asked.

“Catching up on Slog election night coverage,” he said.

Since all of the city council members seemed to have ditched the party at the strike of 8:30, we asked McGinn how he felt about the city council incumbents and their merciless re-election domination in the face of arguably better candidates (cough cough, Forch, sob). “You know, I’ve spent the whole of election night not talking about the city council and I’m not going to break that streak now,” he said. “Not when I’ve got some sweet love making to do.”

(We might’ve shoved that last sentence in his mouth, but we’re sure his wife will appreciate the gesture.)

No on I-1183, Down in the Dumps (and Drinking) | 9:20 p.m.

The No on I-1183 "party" at F.X. McCrory's is a sad affair, what with the initiative passing so easily. So what to drink when you've lost your anti-liquor-initiative campaign?

Spokesperson Alex Fryer had a Stella.

Why'd he lose this one? “Maybe it was Dominic’s post today," Fryer said. Then he amended his statement, lest he be misconstrued, saying his sarcastic comment was “most definitely” giving Dominic more credit than he deserves.

Meanwhile, Fryer compatriot Sandeep Kaushik was drinking red wine—though he was at pains to make clear he'd started the night off with bourbon, and was just trying to pace himself.

Cities Say No to Red Light Cameras | 9:14 p.m.

Reports the Seattle Times: "Early results Tuesday showed 65 percent of Monroe voters and 60 percent in Longview opposing continuing red-light cameras. In Bellingham, 65 percent opposed starting a camera system."

Tacoma Passes Pot Law Based on Seattle Pot Law | 9:11 p.m.

Reports the Trib: "Tacoma voters are easily passing citywide ballot Initiative No. 1 — the measure seeking to make 'marijuana or cannabis offenses … the lowest enforcement priority of the City of Tacoma.' ... Backers of Initiative 1, which is modeled after a Seattle law passed in 2003, have said they pushed to take the issue to voters in part to protect legal medical marijuana patients from potential legal consequence."

Booze Doesn't Make a Celebration | 9:04 p.m.

Forty-five minutes after the results dropped, some guy came to the podium and claimed victory. Thanking a lot of people, but no mention of the $22 million Costco spent.

So to be clear: Costco spent $22 million passing I-1183, but didn't have the balls to show up at their own election night "party."

Transit Lovers Jubilant in Defeat | 9:05 p.m.

The mood at the Prop 1 party is cheerful in defeat. The room is packed with applauding people drinking beer and, occasionally, bellowing inappropriately when they're asked for a polite round of applause. Councilmember Rasmussen stepped up onto a bench to deliver a speech. He said he was proud of everyone in the room for getting "this ballot up at the very last minute," calling it a "daunting task." This was basically a concession speech, although the closest Rasmussen came to admitting it was over was a demure statement that "the trend isn't looking so good...people are concerned about more fees and more taxes." Just as it seemed Rasmussen was going to hit every single concession speech cliche but one, he smashed the last one home in a surprise cliche home run when he congratulated the campaign for taking Prop 1 "out on a high note." That's some kind of cliche bingo, right there!

Council Member Mike O'Brien then took the, er, bench. He first acknowledged how lucky he was that he didn't tear the seat of his pants out while climbing up to make his speech. (One or two ladies moaned their disapproval at the survival of O'Brien's sturdy pants.) He blamed "the specifics of this" proposition, saying that they'll bring out a new proposition with "slight tweaks to make this a smarter package. Seattle cares about transit," O'Brien concluded, adding that city government was going to work to make transportation better, even though, thanks to the lack of car tab revenue, "We're going to have one arm tied behind our back."

But the real corker of a speech came from Prop 1 campaigner Craig Benjamin, who admitted he was a ski bum until his wife finally told him to stop whining about politics and start doing something about them. Benjamin listed a series of problems Seattle is facing—"Problems like sidewalks that fall into the Earth." "IT'S WRONG!" bellowed the most inappropriate man in the building. Benjamin and the drunk man performed a call and response in that way for a while, as they railed against global warming and gridlocked traffic. His speech outshined both the councilmembers by revving up the crowd, restating their purpose, and he broke the room's heart when he broke down for a second. We need to elect this man to some kind of office, and soon.

Bliss at the Jane Hague Party | 8:55 p.m.

Over at Juanita Pub, Jane Hague's party for reelection on the county council—where Hague is leading Richard Mitchell 54-46—was raucous for Kirkland. She joined Kirkland City Council member Bob Sternoff and lots of folks with white hair. The fries and hot wings are tasty, but SECB is very disappointed at the lack of valet parking. Hague took the mic, saying that she was humbled and thankful. She went on to say, "We said no to nasty campaigning."

I-1183's Dry Victory, the Weeping Sore of Eyman | 8:55 p.m.

SECB has never been so fucking bored with an election night party in our lives. Half an hour after the results came out showing I-1183 heading toward a huge victory, and 15 minutes after the AP called it, still no official comment or statement from the Yes campaign, and STILL NO FUCKING BOOZE! Just decaf coffee and a goddamn cookie.

So in lieu of any actual interaction from the I-1183 folks, most of the reporters are just lined up in the hallway talking to the loquacious Tim Eyman about his not-quite-as-big-as-expected loss on I-1125. Fucking parasite. We'd talk to Tim too, but he won't even make eye contact with SECB, let alone answer our questions.

Bruce Harrell Likes Winning | 8:54 p.m.

Bruce Harrell is certainly happy about the first results for his reelection bid—he has 62 percent of the vote so far—and the mood is upbeat here at Four Seas restaurant. It is a wonderfully mixed crowd—Asians, whites, and blacks—and this is exactly why so many supporters voted for him. He speaks for and draws a very wide spectrum of Americans. It's that simple. Harrell has also just quoted the great Flip Wilson: "The less you bet, the more lose when you win." In short, Harrell just gave his victory speech.

Whacked with the School Board | 8:48 p.m.

Shortly after the results came in, there were three subsequent groans and one tepid cheer as Marty McLaren pulled ahead. Sharon Peaslee and Kate Martin seemed cautiously hopeful, while Michelle Buetow had the best game face of anyone there.

(She actually is completely fine. Though SECB members better watch their backs, as it seems that her worst margin was probably due to the SECB's massive fuckup in endorsing the incumbent.)

Jean Godden's Victory Party: Amends | 8:31

Papa is still playing guitar. The drop shows a strong showing for Godden, whose acceptance speech was short and sweet. She thanked firefighters, conservation voters, unions, "business leaders and democratic organizations."

"Thank you to each of you here," she continued. "You all chipped in in one way or another... from the bottom of my heart, I thank you. I don't want to do much speaking tonight, I'd rather celebrate this moment... there's so much to do and sometimes it's discouraging. I hope you will come along with me."

Tomorrow, she said, she will go back to work for "good quality of life for all."

Let us hope and pray, dear Lord. Let us hope and pray.

(Footnote: A young man named Carlo just came by to say he liked The Stranger and liked Slog and saw [and/or read] that we had had "a rough encounter" with "Tom" when the night began. [So we know who you are, our aggressive and porcine friend!] Carlo wanted to smooth things over and said he liked our general bearing, but took issue with how some of our fellow writers—specifically those who called for Godden's death earlier this evening—were "cruel." We didn't disagree. Sometimes we are cruel, we said, and not always to our credit. "We're sorry," we told Carlo. "It's politics, and politics is sometimes cruel. Sometimes everyone gets carried away." He laughed good-heartedly [how could he not? He'd just won!] and moved on.)

Bobby's Not Giving Up, Despite UnForchunate Results | 8:43 p.m.

“Everything’s going to be okay," Bobby Forch tells the SECB. He's currently trailing council incumbent Jean Godden by nearly eight points. "You know, we’re going to take these results in stride. You know, we bridged six points in the primary. It’s not over. About half the votes have been counted. We’ll see what tomorrow brings.”

And the party continues unfazed.

State Initiative Results | 8:40 p.m.

So far: Eyman's I-1125 failing; SEIU's I-1163 passing; Costco's I-1183 passing easily.

I-1125 Goes Down Like Your Mama | 8:40 p.m.

There was a moment—before results from King County kicked the anti-tolling, light-rail-derailing Initiative 1125 to the curb—when the measure was actually passing based on returns from eastern Washington and more rural counties.

“I’ll tell ya what," said a woman who identified herself as a former state transportation commission, leaning over SECB's shoulder, pressing herself against our back, and whispering into our ear. "If people pass this, they get what they fucking deserve—which is a bad transportation system. I don’t know if I should say that as a nice 70-year old woman. But on the other hand. People can deal with it.”

That's right, people. Deal. Meanwhile, I-1125 is going down now that results from King County are in.

King County Executive Dow Constantine swooped in, just as those results arrived, to crow. “I think that the people of King County are very clear that they want action to get us out of this recession," Constantine said. "They want to build a high capacity transit system to bring us into the 20th Century, and they are not going to put up with any obstruction from Tim Eyman and his well-heeled supporters. We’re not having it.”

Partying with the Ghosts in the U-District After the Car-Tabs Fee Goes Down in Flames | 8:36 p.m.

After a long period of time of watching more than a dozen men over of the age of 45 not know how to use the internet—they were all gathered around a laptop "finding" the results and then realizing they were looking at the Families and Education Levy results, or "finding" the results and then realizing they were looking at election results in North Bend—the SECB interrupted the no-car-tabs-fee crowd to show them the actual results they were looking for. "WE WON!" someone who doesn't own a bike shouted.

"60 to 40!" someone else shouted.

"Wow! Wow! That is FABULOUS!" a woman in a folding chair shouted.

And then a man called out, "Ladies and gentlemen can I hear it for our fearless leader John Fox?" And then John Fox spoke briefly, giving props to David Miller, Yusuf Cabdi, and four or five others. "We sent a strong message to the city—they just can't do this to us, no more! And maybe they'll start listening to us in the future. Maybe!"

First Night's Results for All Local Races Now Posted | 8:27 p.m.

Read 'em all HERE. These will be updated daily as additional ballots are counted. But if history serves as any guide, the numbers usually don't change a whole lot.

The $60 Car Tab measure to fund transportation improvements is going down in flames (40-60).

As we mentioned earlier, all the city council incumbents are currently winning, and the Families and Education Levy is passing.

In the Seattle School Board races, the incumbents are all ahead, except for Steve Sundquist. He's narrowly trailing Marty McLaren.

In Port of Seattle races, GOP devotee Bill Bryant looks like he's won another term.

1183: Tossed Cookies and Celebration | 8:27 p.m.

Honestly... Costco spends $22 million on a historic initiative shuttering Washington's liquor store monopoly, and they can't even throw a few thousand dollars into a fucking party? Cheap fucking bastards. That said, after much taunting from the dozen or so members of the news media in attendance (plus the SECB), they finally rolled in a cart with coffee and cookies.

UPDATE: Pandemonium at the I-1183 party as the first results come in for what looks like a huge victory!

Council incumbents winning across the board | 8:25 p.m.

The Seattle City Council results:

Council Position No. 1
Jean Godden 41219 53.61%
Bobby Forch 35353 45.98%
Write-in 308 0.40%

Council Position No. 3
Brad Meacham 27646 37.56%
Bruce Harrell 45646 62.01%
Write-in 322 0.44%

Council Position No. 5
Dale L. Pusey 19259 26.44%
Tom Rasmussen 53133 72.94%
Write-in 452 0.62%

Council Position No. 7
David Schraer 13837 18.87%
Tim Burgess 59082 80.58%
Write-in 405 0.55%

Council Position No. 9
Sally J. Clark 48133 65.46%
Dian Ferguson 24898 33.86%
Write-in 498 0.68%

Mitchell Isn't Thrilled | 8:19 p.m.

Results showed Mitchell about 2,000 votes behind. "That's not the first result we wanted to see," he says.

A Report from the No-Car-Tabs Party in a Haunted Community Center
| 8:19 p.m.

The Vote No on Prop 1 party—the anti-car tabs party—is underway in the obviously haunted University Heights Community Center. The party's in a room built for teaching ballet: hardwood floors, a wall of mirrors. The spread includes potato chips, off-brand Cheetos, white and yellow cheddar, oversized Ritz crackers, chips and salsa, soda, beer, and wine. There's a circle of chairs in the middle of the room and city councilman Nick Licata was just seen making small talk with some people, although he's vanished.

Yusuf Cabdi, a volunteer who's on the steering committee, shook the SECB's hand and said, "We're going to win, no question about it." Asked why the no-car-tabs issue is important, he said, "It's important because it's regressive, it hurts the poor, they haven't defined what the money will be spent on—I mean, there's a lot of issues with it." SECB flippantly said, "So you hate bikes," and Cabdi replied, "No I don't, no I don't. Actually I like mass transit. Nothing against bikes or mass transit. But the issue is how they're raising the money."

Asked if he has a bike, Cabdi said, "No, I drive."

Asked if the University Heights Community Centeris haunted—it just looks really haunted—Cabdi said he had no idea, but then John Fox, campaign coordinator for the No on Prop 1 campaign, who was eavesdropping, leaned over and said the building is indeed said to be haunted. "That ghost show on one of the cable channels has been in here," he said. "And there is reportedly a young child roaming upstairs that people have said they have seen. If you go online you can see photos of supposed apparitions in the building."

SECB said the same flippant thing to Fox—"So you hate bikes"—and Fox replied, "Absolutely not. In fact, if they didn't put $18 million in this for street cars there'd be more for bikes. We'd have more for bikes and repairing our bridges and potholes if we weren't putting 18 million into Paul Allen's streetcar." Asked if he thinks they're going to win, Fox said, "No. I'm apprehensive. People say we're going to win but that's what makes me worry."

Forchlight Parade | 8:116 p.m.

Bobby Forch’s party is in full swing—the cheese and charcuterie checks out poison-free, the lighting is dim, and maybe it’s the tub of Jell-O shots from earlier but everyone looks happy and attractive. There are two incredibly tall men here—we’re talking six-foot-ten motherfuckers (goddammit, my bet was 7-foot), stacked next to two 5’6” high school volunteers that made 20,000 calls for Bobby Forch during the election. It was a school project. Their names are Katie and Meskie and they are two seniors at Northwest. Here’s a picture! Aren’t they sweet???

People drink to Bobby. They talk about how the Mississippi fetus thing is failing. Rob, The Diller’s owner, says that one of Jean Godden’s great-grandchildren worked here for a time. Back in the olden days.

I ask how dedicated the people are to Forch. “Dedicated!” They scream. Dedicated enough to go strangle Godden yourself? “Ha! No!” They say. Why can’t Godden do the job, then?

“It’s not about the age, it’s about the faculties. They’re not all there,” says one political operative who shall remain nameless.

“I’ve worked for 180 candidates in 10 years… Bobby tops them all,” says political fundraiser Colby Underwood, who is literally growing before my eyes. I swear he’s nine feet tall.

First Batch of Results for State Initiatives | 8:12 p.m.

They're rolling in from counties around the state. So far they're all passing, but most counties have yet to report.

Three Hot Flashes and One Cool Leg Reveal | 8:11 p.m.

Kate Martin, on her second pommetini, would like Slog to know that Michelle Buetow (far left) is the only challenger who is not menopausal.

Went to a Godden Party... | 8:04 p.m.

The Jean Godden (Presumably) Victory Party is still pretty quiet.

So far, guitar-man Papa Rob is far and away our favorite person here. He's been strumming doggedly away—and he's pretty damn good, in a bluesy-folky way. Our hostile, porcine greeting party has vanished into some back room.

The Washington Bus people came and went in a matter of minutes, leaving about 20 of us behind, including the candidate. When I asked Godden how she was feeling about tonight, she shrugged and said "oh, fine." She didn't seem to want to elaborate. (Sorry the photo is so dark, but the flash is making everyone look washed out.)

Good News from the South!! | 8:04 p.m.

Mississippi defeats life at conception ballot initiative: "Mississippi voters Tuesday defeated a ballot initiative that would've declared life begins at conception, a proposal that supporters sought in the Bible Belt state as a way to prompt a legal challenge to abortion rights nationwide."

Tim Eyman Gives a Speech | 8:05 p.m.

Tim Eyman is giving his concession speech for I-1125—15 minutes before the results are released.

Dwight Pelz on the STD-Like Properties of Tim Eyman | 7:59 p.m.

At Fado Pub, where the No on I-1125 gang is gathering, Democratic State Party Chair Dwight Pelz just declared: "Tim Eyman is like herpes. Just when you think it's gone, it comes back."

Wait, is Pelz speaking from personal experience here?

"Do I develop a rash every time another Eyman initiative comes on the ballot?" Pelz asked, re-framing the question like a pro. "Yes."

Pelz, just getting going, also took aim at the Seattle Times editorial board for recently declaring that "nice is not an option" in Olympia this special session—or, in Pelz's translation of the Times' policy: "It's time for some more people to die."

Any predictions for tonight, Mr. Pelz?

"I'm only here to rant," he said.

Yes on Prop 1, No on Sticking Around | 7:56 p.m.

After the SECB hate-fucked our face with a Dick's Deluxe or two, we made our way over to the Great Nabob on Queen Anne ("Good times," the chalkboard outside promised, adding, hopefully, "Great people") where the Yes on Prop 1 party was kicking into high gear. At first glance, this was the place to be: Local luminaries in the building includde Mayor McGinn's spokesperson Aaron Pickus, prolific webternet commenter Will in Seattle, Sally "needs no introduction" Bagshaw, and slender daddy bear himself, Mayor McGinn.

How do you feel about Prop 1's prospects, Mr. Mayor? "Hopeful." Oh yeah? "People worked really hard." Wait, that didn't sound very hopeful. "I'm an optimist. You have to be, to keep working on things like this." But you don't want to make any predictions? "No." You just don't sound like you're blowing up any victory balloons, is all, Mayor McGinn. "I think [Prop 1] is very progressive. Seattle wants more progressive transportation."

When we asked the mayor if we'd be seeing his face light up when the returns start pouring in, he looked positively sheepish and explained he'd be heading out to the Families and Education party at the Elysian Fields. After he made his way down the bar, Sally Bagshaw poked her head around the corner to say hi. Hey, Councilwoman Bagshaw! Are you going to be around to see the returns come in? "No." What? Where are you going? "I'm going to go see Jean Godden," she explained, and then she said she was on her way to Elysian Fields, too.

The big names are fleeing this party like the building's on fire (nobody wants to have their picture taken with the losing horse) but ordinary, everyday folks are still pouring in. There are families with kids, young transportation activists, and, well, Will in Seattle making the rounds. (Maybe this explains the mass exodus?) The wi-fi is flowing like milk and honey, the bartenders are agile and cute, and the folks who don't have political careers at stake are feeling good.

Drinking Beer with Richard Mitchell | 7:50 p.m.

Folks are upbeat at the party for Richard Mitchell, who is challenging 36-term county council incumbent Jane Hague. Mitchell says he's "very relaxed." The party is in the back room of Crossroads Bar and Grill in Bellevue. There are beers in hand and football on the big screen. When SECB asked why he chose this location, he said it was a nice local joint in the middle of the district with "a diverse community surrounding it." He made the point that election parties in banquet rooms send the wrong message and should be more accessible. A supporter asked Mitchell at 7:35 p.m. if he wanted to turn on the TV news, and he said it was too early.

One of the volunteers said to Richard, "You are not a politician!" and told SECB, "you can quote me on that." Uh, okay.

SECB thinks it's important to mention that Mitchell is totally dreamy and says things like "smashing." SWOON.

More Like SCHOOL BORED, Amirite?? | 7:45 p.m.

The SECB arrived ten minutes after the school board challenger party was supposed to start at Rosita's in Green Lake. Fortunately, we missed little. Kate Martin was eager to unwind as she offered us a sip of her pommetini (a martinit with muddled lemon, vodka, simple syrup, and pomegranate juice). Sharon Peaslee rolled in wit her posse fifteen minutes, and Marty McLaren came in arm-and-arm with Cliff Mass. (Squeee!)

Half an hour before the first info drop, there was still no sign of Michelle Buetow, knee-high boots, or a leopard-print dress.

All three challengers in the house were optimistic, and each believed he or she would pull through. Go team!

Bobby Forch: Pro-Luck, Pro-Prosperity | 7:35 p.m.

After a few clumsy Jell-O shots with perky youngsters (never forget: always gross), we departed Washington Bus and ran into city council challenger Bobby Forch in front of SAM’s Hammering Man, across the street from his own campaign party at the Diller Room. Get this: He was escorting—not giving directions to, escorting—a lost Canadian couple to the Brooklyn for oysters. We don’t know if his hospitality is leftover from his days of being a flight attendant but OMG, swoon!

Here’s something else: It turns out Bobby is incredibly superstitious. Tonight his ritual includes eating special fancy popcorn imported from Chicago, wearing his lucky monkey tie, and keeping a red silk handkerchief tucked in his pocket “for luck and prosperity,” as well as a worn black-and-white photo of his dead younger brother, taken in Alabama during their childhood. “I keep him with me on all important occasions,” Forch says.

Bobby Forch is still an effing dreamboat. Let’s hope a) he gets elected to the position of glorified concierge on the Seattle City Council or b) Jean Godden dies tonight (peacefully!).

Oh gracious! A small spread of cheeses and charcuterie has arrived. We shall investigate.

P.S. There are no coat hooks under the back bar at the Diller Room. What the fuck, Diller Room?

Things Get Real Hostile Real Fast at the Jean Godden Party | 7:35 p.m

Some more people have shown up—five youngish-looking people and one middle-aged, porcine man who greeted me when I came back into the room and approached me when I pulled out my laptop. He looked at me and said: "Hey, are you covering the race?"

"Yes," I said, standing up to greet him. "My name is Brendan Kiley and I work for The Stranger." He muttered something incomprehensible. "What?" I said. "I'm not gonna to talk to you," he said. "Why not?" I said. "I'm not talking to you," he said. "Why not?" I said. "Do you work for the campaign or something?" He shook his head. "Everything I say can and will be used against me," he said, looking wounded and angry.

"You don't even know me," I said. "I don't even normally cover politics."

"Yeah, but your paper does," he said and made a dismissive hand gesture to send me back to my seat, saying something that sounded like "go away."

"Thanks for the friendly reception," I snarled.

So I say to you, my porcine friend, if you ever happen to read this—grow up. This is politics. I normally cover the theater beat, of all things, which is full of precious, tender egos. But in a matter of seconds, you became the biggest wuss I've met in years. And that's saying something.

Congratulations.

This is going to be a long hour and a half.

Ohio Restores Union Rights | 7:32 p.m.

Via the NYT: "A year after Republicans swept legislatures across the country, voters in Ohio delivered their verdict on a centerpiece of the conservative legislative agenda, striking down a law that restricted public workers’ rights to bargain collectively."

1183: No Booze Is Good Booze? | 7:20 p.m.

It is ironic that the most sober gathering of the evening is for the pro-booze party. No booze. No food. No party. Just a small room with a podium and some reporters.

Local Election Hashtag?| 7:10 p.m.

Is there one? KREM just used #WaElection. We like it! There's also #waelex. We like that more! #waelex!

Jell-O Shots with Washington Bus | 7:04 p.m.

Making our way downtown, the SECB was picked up by a bus filled with a keg of beer and 30 young political wonks from the Washington Bus waving a tub of Jell-O shots in our shamefully sober faces. Who were we to say no? Currently, we’re investigating the shots for gerrymandering and the keg for electoral fraud. A Very Concerned Young Woman just asked if the Jell-O shots are vegan. Someone get that chick another beer!

God, we love democracy.

The Jean Godden (Presumably) Victory Party | 6:55 p.m.

It's just us and a guy named "Papa Rob," who's playing lovely arpeggiated guitar—no candidate, no nobody. Just us chickens. The staff is bustling around and setting up, while he plays some blues on his guitar. He plans to run for office someday, saying "People have to stand up! I don't care if you're Republican or Democrat or Independent! More people should run for office." He's worked for the Godden campaign "since she first ran," he saYS, "not working in some office but out on the streets, talking to the people."

That is all that's happening here.