SYCAMORE | DeKalb’s Republican district headquarters was filled with joy and disappointment Tuesday night while waiting for the announcement of the final election results.

About 30 DeKalb Republican supporters occupied a small room filled with Republican campaign signs, two televisions and a buffet, as well as one little supporter young enough to occupy her time with her pacifier while awaiting the results.

The night was filled with mixed feelings as news flooded in of the loss of Republican Judy Baar Topinka to incumbent Gov. Rod Blagojevich in the gubernatorial race.

Sam Bandy, a DeKalb resident, was disappointed by the re-election of Blagojevich. Bandy and Blagojevich are both from the same home town and knew each other as teenagers.

“I met him when he was 14, and he hasn’t changed his hair since,” Bandy said.

Bandy discussed his disappointment over the re-election of Blagojevich with those around him.

“Wasn’t it Will Rogers who said ‘the voters of America deserve what they get?'” Bandy asked. “That has a good and a bad side to it.”

Tentative results and eventually final results were projected on the wall so all could see and were updated as the evening progressed.

One television was tuned to CLTV, giving the most up-to-date election results while the NIU football game played on the other.

Although disappointed by the re-election of Blagojevich as Illinois governor, the room had an overall tone of happiness over the re-election of 70th District State Rep. Bob Pritchard.

The small room erupted in applause when the announcement of Pritchard’s re-election was made.

Pritchard also discussed his disappointment with the re-election of Blagojevich.

“He is very charismatic; he obviously appeals to the majority of voters in this state, but I differ with him on public policy,” Pritchard said.

Although Blagojevich appeals to Illinois voters, Pritchard said the needs of Illinois are not being met.

“I don’t agree with his priorities,” Pritchard said. “I think we need to address some of the core issues: property tax relief funding, higher education. We certainly need to fund early childhood education, but we need money to fund them.”

Carlene Eck is a Campus Reporter for the Northern Star.