US election night: Countdown to sold-out Brussels Watch party on 5 November!

All eyes are on the US presidential race as the two candidates enter the final days and hours of their testy election campaigns.

Democrat vice-president Kamala Harris and Republican former president Donald Trump remain deadlocked in the fiercely contested race that is too close to call.

US citizens are not only voting in a new president. There’s an equally tight battle for the Senate where democrats currently hold 47 of the 100-member chamber’s seats, benefitting from the support of four independent senators who back it on important votes. But with one-third of the chamber’s seats up for grabs, the Republicans - who at present possess 49 - only need two more to regain control.

Joining in the suspense is the biggest watch party in Brussels staged at the five-star Le Chatelain Brussels Hotel. Bedecked in red, white and blue for the big night, it will be opening its doors for the election extravaganza from 20.00 on 5 November.

What can partygoers expect on the night?

All tickets for the event on Tuesday evening are sold out. Organisers point out that it is not possible to buy tickets at the door. Everyone in possession of a ticket is invited to check in at a welcome desk in the hotel foyer.

The event is staged on two floors of the hotel with cloakrooms (€1 charge) sited on both the ground floor and -1 floor, as are ticket sales points for drinks and food.

Tickets are required for the American-themed menu of hotdogs, burger and fries, nachos with guacamole and chili con carne. Meanwhile, €5 tokens are necessary to purchase drinks at each of the two bars, located on both floors. Food is only available on the lower floor.

The ground floor space stages the talks by local experts and a debate between representatives of Republican Overseas and Democrats Abroad.

While the precise schedule for the programme has yet to be confirmed, it includes the following events:

• Background talk on the US electoral system by University of Florida professor Zachary Selden 
• Talk on US-EU relations by College of Europe professor Bruno Lété
• Gregg Svingen of Democrats Abroad Belgium and Matt Hogarth of the UK Labour party share their experience of being on the ground in Pennsylvania
• Talk on race and gender in US politics by Becky Slack, chair of Brussels Labour party
• Panel discussion and audience Q&A
• Debate between Democrats Abroad’s Stephanie Quintao and Republican Overseas’ Aleksander Pruitt

TV screens are located on both floors, broadcasting CNN election coverage and rolling news. On the lower floor, a band is set to perform in two musical sessions to keep attendees entertained. There’s also a selfie spot with large cut-outs of the two candidates.  

Meanwhile, everyone will be waiting for the first results to trickle in with all eyes on the battleground states of Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Nevada and Wisconsin. It certainly promises to be a nailbiting evening!

The watch party is organised by @seven international community with support from The Bulletin, the Press Club Brussels Europe and the American Club of Brussels (ACB).

US Election Night
5 November, 20.00-3.00
Le Châtelain Brussels Hotel
Rue du Châtelain 17
Brussels