Running for a Cause

Election Night (Part 1)

After a year of campaigning, it would all come to an end. Tonight. I had talked to as many voters as possible, and tonight, it would all pay off. I gathered around the small tv in the middle of my living room, along with my parents, my sister, and my campaign team. The people who had been with me since the start.

We wouldn't have any results from Maine until later on in the night, so all I could do was wait. I began staring off into space, noticing the family portrait hanging on the wall. I was so little at the time, only around 12. My sister towered over me then, she was 17 at the time. I think that picture was taken on our family trip to Rhode Island. Back when my sister insisted on dying her hair anything besides her natural light brown color. Back when I still wore the glasses that covered my blue eyes, and when I still had long hair that covered the top half of my head.

So much has changed since then. At that point I still wanted to be an author, and had no interest in the political conversations that took place at every family dinner. I didn't care. Little did I know, the next year I would be introduced to a world that would literally change my life. The world of politics. From then on, I knew my life's calling would be public service.

I turned to my mom, my earliest supporter. She leaned over and kissed me on the head, like she did when I was little.

"I believe in you." She whispered in my ear before she turned to start talking to my father again.

This campaign has drained the life out of me. I never realized how tiring running a political campaign could be. Going from town hall, to banquet, to town hall, and to every house party in between. I had spread my message of hope to every corner of the great state of Maine. Whether or not it would pay off, we would have to see.

My political opinions have always been different. They were a mix of both of my parents, same as my sister. Listening to both parents debate about the latest gun control bill, or the executive order on immigration, I got both sides of the argument. Neither of them agreed with me most of the time, but they supported me no matter what.

I hear the MSNBC anchor mention my name on the tv, and everyone immediately falls quiet and turns toward the screen.

"The biggest race to watch tonight, is in the state of Maine. Democrat Eric Foster is hoping to unseat Republican incumbent Harry Lewis. Lewis has served in the Senate for 2 terms, if he wins tonight, this will be his 3rd." Everyone in the room boos.

"If Foster wins, he would be the youngest senator in US history, as well as the first openly gay senator." The room booms with applause.

Everything is at stake. I still have another hour until polls close. I've never been more anxious than I am right now. I had no idea how this night was going to go, there have been polls showing me winning, but even more showing Lewis winning.