PHOTO GALLERY: Mid-Missouri candidates, supporters attend watch parties

John Wright, left, Stephen Webber and Sharon Jones check election results at an election watch party Tuesday at Shakespeare's South. Democrats Wright and Webber were elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in Districts 47 and 46, respectively.   |  Marysa Greenawalt

Tom Mendenhall holds an original Ronald Reagan inauguration button from 1981 on Tuesday night at an election returns watch party at the Holiday Inn Executive Center. Mendenhall attended the 1981 inauguration.   |  Benjamin Hoste

Boone County Southern District Commissioner candidate Karen Miller has dinner with John Baker, right, and Judy Baker, left, with her partner David Brown on Tuesday at her house before they head to Mary Still's watch party at Broadway Brewery.   |  Yi-Chin Lee

From left, Tom Mendenhall, state Rep. Caleb Jones, the Republic candidate for the 50th District, and Eric Albert chat on Tuesday at a watch party at the Holiday Inn Executive Center. Republican candidates from around mid-Missouri are watching returns at the Holiday Inn.   |  Benjamin Hoste

Supporters react to the results at the election night party for President Barack Obama on Tuesday in Chicago.   |  The Associated Press

Mitch Richards, state representative candidate in the 47th District, is interviewed by Candice Aviles from ABC 17 News prior to hearing the election results on Tuesday at the Boone County Republicans Office. Richards answered questions about his goals in office.   |  Rachel English

From left, Michael Berry, who is John Wright's uncle, Janey Berry, Wright's aunt, and John Riddick, Wright's father, gather around Janey Berry's iPad to look at election coverage Tuesday night at Shakespeare's in south Columbia.   |  Bridget Murphy

Tom Mendenhall puts his ear up to speakers on a television Tuesday evening in the ballroom of the Holiday Inn Executive Center. Mendenhall says he has gathered for Republican election night parties in the past. Mendenhall got his "Don't Tread on Me" hat at the Missouri Republican State Convention.   |  Stuart Palley

John Wright, standing, the Democratic candidate for the 47th House District, greets his family Tuesday at Shakespeare's in south Columbia.   |  Bridget Murphy

A "Don't Tread on Me" baseball cap lays on a table Tuesday night at the Holiday Inn Executive Center. Republicans gathered throughout the evening to support Republican candidates.   |  Stuart Palley

Fred Berry and wife, Sherry, watch the election results on his phone Tuesday night at the Holiday Inn Executive Center. Berry lost the race for state representative for the 46th District to Stephen Webber.   |  Alli Inglebright

Sherry Berry, right, Fred Berry and Beverley Fries watch the results of the election on Tuesday night at the Boone County Republican headquarters.   |  Alli Inglebright

From left, Sarah Moore, John Wright, the House representative candidate for the 47th District, and Bob Loeb talk Tuesday night at an election watch party at Shakespeare's South. Loeb was Wright's tennis coach at Hickman High School when Wright won state in 1994.   |  Bridget Murphy

Mitch Richards, state representative candidate in Missouri's 47th District, speaks with Howard County GOP member Bob Wood about successful results in Howard County on Tuesday at the Holiday Inn Executive Center. Howard County is one of the counties in the 47th District.   |  Rachel English

Campaign signs are displayed outside Stephen Webber and John Wright's watch party Tuesday night at Shakespeare's in south Columbia.   |  Marysa Greenawalt

Friends and family gather to support Missouri House Democratic candidates Stephen Webber and John Wright during an election party Tuesday night at Shakespeare's in south Columbia.   |  Marysa Greenawalt

From left, Andrew Sieff and Jana Stephens watch the incoming national election results Tuesday while at the Boone County Democrat Watch Party at the Blue Note.   |  Jaime Henry-White

Chris Flinchpaugh watches the incoming national election results Tuesday while at the Boone County Democrat Watch Party at the Blue Note.   |  Jaime Henry-White

From left, former councilman Karl Skala, his wife, Mahree Skala, and Michael Trapp talk while they watch the incoming national election results Tuesday at the Boone County Democrat Watch Party at The Blue Note.   |  Jaime Henry-White

Democratic party supporters fill The Blue Note on Tuesday at the Boone County Democrats Election Watch Party while waiting to hear the results.   |  Kile Brewer