Scenes from the Hill: Election night in the Triangle

Dan Stompel and Zander Pitrus celebrate a Republican victory at Bralie’s Sports bar during a watch party on Nov. 5, 2024.

On Tuesday night, a contentious election year finally came to a head. TVs in bars, restaurants and academic buildings across Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Durham and Raleigh tuned their channels to election result livestreams. As results poured in and the hours ticked by, our photographers documented what they saw: worry, joy, anguish — and indifference. For some, watching the election was a chance to put their daily lives on hold and take in the moment; while for others, election results played in the background while they went about their night.

Sights from bars, restaurants and homes in Chapel Hill and Carrboro

Heather Diehl

People gather at He's Not Here while election results are played on the TVs on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

Anna Connors

Sam Blank plays pool at Speakeasy in Carrboro while the 2024 election results are displayed on a TV in the background on the evening of Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

Heather Diehl

UNC senior Melissa Looney passes out a cookie cake that reads 'Hotties for Harris' to her friends and roommates while they watch election results at their home in Chapel Hill, N.C. on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

Mason Miller

Election commentary plays in a restaurant on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

Heather Diehl

UNC sophomore Woody Ragland and senior Evan Wenzel watch election results on their laptop as they work the door at He' Not Here in Chapel Hill, N.C. on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

Heather Diehl

Clouds brewery employee, Noah Mason, discusses election results with his co-worker and unc senior Regina Smith on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

Anna Connors

Election results are displayed on a TV at Speakeasy in Carrboro while people walk through the streets outside on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

Mason Miller

Ewa Zapala and Radhika Heda watch the election results live on their computers on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

Anna Connors

Kendall Cannon watches the election results during her night shift at the South Orange Rescue Squad in Carrboro, N.C. on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

Mason Miller

The American flag waves over Franklin St. on election night on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

UNC Republicans Watch Party at Bralie's Sports Bar in Durham

Grace Richards

Trump supporters gather at Bralie’s Sports bar for a watch party on Nov. 5, 2024.

Grace Richards

A woman waits in apprehension at Bralie’s Sports bar during a watch party on Nov. 5, 2024.

Equality NC Watch Party and other events around Durham, N.C.

Dylan Thiessen

Beckie Moriello, Sam Montgomery-Blinn and Val Cesanelli watch Election Day coverage at Bull McCabe's Irish Pub on Nov. 5, 2024.

Dylan Thiessen

Hayden Robinson watches Election Day coverage in between customers at Bull McCabe's Irish Pub on November 5th, 2024.

Dylan Thiessen

Angelica Davila and Elsa Huerta react to new election results on their phone during EqualityNC's Election Day watch party on Nov. 5, 2024.

N.C. Democratic Party Election Night Watch Party at Marriott in Raleigh, N.C.

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Hannah Zinn

Sloan Duvall, president of the UNC Young Democrats, cries tears of joy as Josh Stein is declared the winner of the race for N.C. governor. The North Carolina Democratic Party Election Night Watch Party was held at the Raleigh Marriott City Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

Hannah Zinn

The Shaw University Platinum Sound Marching Band performs at the Democratic Party Election Night Watch Party, held at the Raleigh Marriott City Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

Hannah Zinn

N.C. governor-elect Josh Stein speaks at the North Carolina Democratic Party Election Night Watch Party, held at the Raleigh Marriott City Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

UNC Sunrise Movement Watch Party at the Campus Y

20241105_Mothershed_election-night-sunrise-movement-7-2.jpg — Elyssa Mothershed

UNC Sunrise Movement leader and sophomore Shiva Rajbhandari gives an uplifting speech to watch party attendees following feelings of stress about election results at the Campus Y on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

20241105_Mothershed_election-night-sunrise-movement-71.jpg — Elyssa Mothershed

11th-grade students at Durham School of the Arts Owen Ambrose and Aiden Mendoza paint a banner with the phrase "The People Decided", for an upcoming UNC Sunrise Movement rally at the Campus Y on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

Green Party Watch Party at Shahrazad Lounge in Raleigh, N.C.

Dylan Thiessen

Julie Leak watches the Green Party's Zoom meeting with fellow Green Party voters during election night on Nov. 5, 2024.

Orange County Democratic Party Watch Party at Luna's in Carrboro, N.C.

McKenzie Bulris

McKenzie Bulris is a 2023-24 audio & video co-editor at the Daily Tar Heel. He has previously served as the video editor. McKenzie is pursuing a double major in journalism and media and public policy.

Heather Diehl

Heather Diehl is the 2024-2025 photo editor. She previously worked as a senior photo staffer for two years. Heather is pursuing a degree in media & journalism and minors in health and society and studio art.