Rep. Duckworth wins US Senate seat over incumbent Sen. Mark Kirk

Tammy Duckworth supporters stood in a ballroom in Chicago on Tuesday, waiting to see the election results for the US Senate and presidential race.

“I was rooting for Tammy, I’ve been rooting for her for a while. I got to meet her last year, and ever since I’ve been rooting for her,” Keith Price, 46, said.

Rep. Tammy Duckworth, Iraq War veteran and double amputee, ran against incumbent Sen. Mark Kirk on the platform of “growing the economy by advocating for small businesses, investing in infrastructure, improving the lives of our Veterans and cutting government waste and fraud,” according to her website. 

Attendees stood watching two large screens, both broadcasting live election updates. Supporters cheered when the screens showed Duckworth with a lead over incumbent Sen. Mark Kirk, or when they showed Hillary Clinton with a lead over Donald Trump.

Price waited by the table of snacks on the side of the ballroom, leaning on the wall for support. “I got a missing leg from the knee down – I like the fact that she got up and did something with her life even though she was the way she was. And I look up to her because I didn’t– I didn’t keep going. I’m just happy she kept going and look where it took her,” Price said.

Others came to support Duckworth for political as opposed to personal reasons. Kady McFadden, 28, represented the Sierra Club at the election party, which advocates for environmental reform. “A lot of the reasons for conflict abroad is because of energy, and being a veteran she’s seen the need for clean energy in combat,” McFadden said.

Alex Ailutoaei, 16, interned with Jan Schakowsky and found Duckworth inspiring: “She’s served with the military and she’s worked with the VA and she’s working hard to just try and get more benefits towards veterans. The fact that she’s doing that and working so hard for it affects me.”

Soon after the party started, the screen showed CNN projecting Tammy Duckworth as the winner of the US Senate seat. There was a cheer across the ballroom, and those waiting outside filed in to celebrate the news. After the announcement was made, there was almost an hour long wait before Duckworth took to the stage, backed by friends, family, and the flags of her state and country.

“I believe in an America that doesn't give up on anyone who hasn't given up on themselves,” Duckworth said to her crowd.

Nari Safavi, 55, was excited about the Duckworth win, as he believed the win was bigger than just her: “I think she represents a shift in terms of the grip on power in America. She’s a person who is reasonably progressive and the fact that she’s a minority that has made sacrifices for this country makes all of that much more meaningful.