COSTA MESA, California. About 10 minutes before the polls closed, supporters of Larry Elder, the main Republican candidate, began streaming into a hotel ballroom in Orange County, sipping wine and whiskey. The band played “The Girl From Ipanema” and the stage was surrounded by white-and-blue rocks, while attendees waited for Mr. Elder.
Just after the polls closed at 8 p.m., Fred Whitaker, the president of the Orange County Republican Party, warned the crowd (inaccurately, it turned out) that it would probably be a long night, because the first results they would probably favor Democrats. “Enjoy the food,” he said. “Enjoy the drink.”
And then they prayed.
Pastor Jack Hibbs of Chino Hills Calvary Chapel thanked God for creating California. “We beg you, we beseech you, that you grant victory,” he said.
Later, after The Associated Press called the race for Governor Gavin Newsom, Mr. Elder spoke to the crowd and agreed.
“Let us be kind in defeat,” he said, adding, “We may have lost the battle, but we will win the war.”
The full ballroom cheered.
Throughout the campaign, Mr. Elder made unfounded allegations about election fraud, echoing former President Donald J. Trump. He had previously suggested he would challenge the results if he lost and Mr Newsom would keep the job. But Tuesday night did not say whether he planned to challenge the results.
At the ceremony, which the candidate declared as a “victory party”, some of Mr Elder’s supporters said they would accept defeat if he arrived. “Of course,” said Cheryl Rosenberg, an educator in the Inner Empire. “I’m not going to cheat.”
Mrs. Rosenberg, 57, ran straight to the Costa Mesa Hotel from work with her friend and partner, Susan Sawyer, both in American-flag dress. Mrs. Sawyer also said he would also accept the election result if he did not favor Mr. Elder.
But Sawyer, 58, said he had already decided to leave California in any case because of the cost of living. A lifelong Californian, she said she would like to be able to stay. But she and her husband are about to retire and believe they cannot afford to spend their golden years in the state. So they recently sold their home for $ 720,000 and will move to Arizona.
“We’re just going to grab the money and run,” he said.
The two friends were ecstatic when the recovery effort qualified for the vote, both believing Mr. Newsom has been “a horrible governor.” They decided to support Mr. Elder, a Conservative radio host, because he was not a career politician and had what they said were common sense solutions to problems such as forest fires and the homeless crisis.
“He wants a California we want to go back to,” Ms. Rosenberg said.