In the face of local-level losses, area Democrats emerged from Tuesday's election feeling newly optimistic about their party's standing and future in Butler County.

About 50 Democrats gathered for dinner at Compadres Mexican Restaurant in Center Township Wednesday night to discuss election results and decompress after the end of campaign season.

Catherine Lalonde, the county's Democratic chairwoman, spoke to the crowd. Even in the rather Republican-leaning Butler County, she used words of hope, not defeat, after Tuesday's election.

“I think we have made some good inroads,” Lalonde said. “A lot of people in this room tonight are new to this. We're meeting more people, and I think there is more energy now among Democrats in Butler County.”

The evening's conversations all started the same. Organizers were disappointed Tuesday by a close race lost by Ron DiNicola to incumbent U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly for the new 16th Congressional District seat. They were bothered by state Rep. Daryl Metcalfe's victory over Daniel Smith in the 12th Legislative District.

But, as Chris Reiger told the crowd, for the first time in years the Democrat candidates were competitive. Reiger ran against DiNicola in the primary then joined the candidate's efforts in the general election.

“Metcalfe and Kelly,” Reiger said, “had their tightest margins ever.”

The politico seemed satisfied with his party's efforts. He pointed to Erie, which voted Republican in 2016, as a potential Democratic stronghold that could help Democrats unseat Kelly in a future race.

“I have never been more optimistic,” he said. “You can't take back your democracy in one night.”

Katie Richardson, a precinct committeewoman who canvassed in Adams Township, said she hasn't seen such turnout figures at her precinct in years.

“We're still working on building up the Butler County Democratic Party,” Richardson said. “Even though we lost some local elections, a whole lot of them were close.”

Tony Stagno, another Democrat committee volunteer, said he attributed high turnout this year to President Donald Trump angering women voters.

Stagno wore a blue sign with candidate names outside precincts Tuesday. He said wives were giving him discrete thumbs-ups behind their husbands' backs.

“Not just one,” Stagno said. “A number of them.”

Anne Baker of Meridian said the same thing happened at the precincts she campaigned near.

“That happened so many times,” Baker said. “At different polls, too.”

Joyce Jefferson said she returned to Butler County eight years ago after moving away. In those eight years, she said, she never met anyone involved with local Democrats organizing despite being registered and previously volunteering for campaigns. That changed this year.

“I can't wait for the next election now,” she said.

Democrat success on the state level was to be expected, according to Michael Coulter, Slippery Rock University political science professor. In a phone interview Wednesday, Coulter said races for governor and senate indicated that political polling was fairly trustworthy this year as an indicator of final results.

“In some ways, (Scott) Wagner and (Lou) Barletta had to kind of engage in the Trump persona,” Coulter said. “That itself doesn't win races. That's not a magic recipe for victory for other people.”

If Kelly were to vacate his seat or choose not to run for re-election one day, Coulter said, Democrats would likely make a big play for the district. Democrats Wednesday night indicated they would prepare for that day.

“We're moving in the right direction,” said Kathy Snider of Cranberry Township, another Democrat canvasser. “There's no crying in politics.”