Documenting Election 2020

As Election Day stretched into Election Week, photographers in the DMV captured the changing mood in our city. Nineteen area photographers shared their images to help us tell this story.

On the Campaign Trail
Celebrating at Black Lives Matter Plaza
Champagne and Confetti
Anxiety and Exuberance
Trump in Effigy
Flags
Celebration on Wheels
Signs
The Media
Dogs
Kids

On the Campaign Trail

Long before final votes were tallied, Joe and Jill Biden were in the Hawkeye state for the Iowa Caucuses. Photographer Kevin Wolf captured these images.

Joe and Jill Biden at the campaign rally the night before the Iowa caucus ©Kevin Wolf

Celebrating at BLM Plaza

On Election Night as well as after the race was called the following Saturday, massive crowds filled Black Lives Matters Plaza, just blocks from the White House.

Flags and confetti at Black Lives Matter Plaza, November 7. ©Angela N.

A few photos that represent the shifting of political presence in the nation’s capitol. ©Daniel Scott Ruben

16th Ave / Black Lives Matter Plaza gathering right after the election was called for Joe Biden. ©Steven Cheadle

Crowds gathered by the White House to celebrate the Biden/Harris victory. Black Lives Matter Plaza – Washington, DC. ©Eric Purcell

Photographer Kristine Jones: This election was about right and wrong, life and death, justice and injustice. This election was about making sure that every voice was heard, every vote counted, and most importantly that Black Lives Matter.

Champagne and Confetti

Photographer Mike Landsman chose some captures involving champagne and celebration. It was reported that champagne was being cleared off local shelves.

Anxiety and Exuberance

Election week was a roller coaster ride as tension turned to exhilaration and back again.

Photographer Ben Eisendrath: The feeling at McPherson Square election night was captured starkly by this woman’s shirt. The count had started heavily in Biden’s favor as many early votes were tallied first, then Trump began to overtake as the in-person totals came in. At this point the big screen on the square showed Virginia had tilted red, and Florida and Texas were not going the Democrats’ way either.

Photographer Marci Lindsay: To me this represents the joy, hope, and RELIEF that was felt by me, the city, the country, and the world. Joy that we pulled it off, hope that the country and indeed the world can get back on a better track, and a palpable, physical relief that the last four years will soon be behind us.

Eleanor Holmes Norton hearing the news while speaking at McPherson Square ©Victoria Pickering

Trump in Effigy

Hanging over the week’s proceedings was Donald Trump who, for now at least, lives just down the street.

Photographer Gloria Jones: With a glimpse of the White House and the Washington Monument in the background, I was drawn to the simplicity of this tribute of ‘Baby Trump’. Bye Loser!

McPherson Square, November 7. ©Angela N.

Flags

At Black Lives Matter Plaza, American flags were flown and even worn.

Photographer Geoff Livingston: This photo made me think of a modern Lady Liberty in the French Revolution context. The historical arc of America forever changed when Kamala Harris became the first female Vice President-Elect. One hundred years ago the 19th Amendment guaranteed the right to vote for women across the country. It took one hundred years, at least four generations, for a woman to hold one of the highest offices in the land. The metaphorical shattered glass lies all over Black Lives Matter Plaza now.

Photographer Arpita Upadhyaya: This image was taken on Wednesday November 4th, the day after the elections. The outcome was not clear yet. There was a lot of energy in the crowd, all hoping for a Biden-Harris win. For me, the tension was all but unbearable. But it was amazing to be part of that diverse crowd, all wishing for one thing and “keeping the hope alive”, and many reminders of all the issues that are at stake.

Celebrations on Wheels

Revelers toured the city in cars and on bikes.

Photographer Eric Purcell: A young woman celebrates from a car on a gridlocked 17th St near the White house. I like this photo because at first look it has great positive energy, but upon closer inspection you see that the car seems to be carrying three generations of women — all celebrating the Biden/Harris victory together.

Signs

Handwritten or pre-printed, signs expressed hope for the future and a rejection of the past four years.

The Media

Reporters were on hand to capture the moment.

Photographer Gloria Jones: Black Lives Matter Plaza was filled with joy and celebration! Horns were honking, music was playing, and people were literally dancing in the street until I came upon this man engrossed in the reading a newspaper. The headline reads, “Biden defeats Trump!” Time stood still in this moment. He almost seemed like some sort of prop that somehow perfectly set the stage for the celebrations going on all around him. The stillness drew me in and I felt compelled to capture this moment in time.

Dogs

W.C. Fields once quipped, “Don’t work with animals or children.” And, to be sure, some of the political pups took up most of the attention when they appeared.

Kids

As the song says, “I believe that children are our future.” Many kids were on hand as witnesses to history.

Photographer Kelly Paras: The future is bright and full of possibilities. Two little girls danced in the street in front of the White House on Sunday night (Nov 8th). Their carefree joy reverberated through the crowd; a collective breath of relief and optimism.