Winnipeggers watching U.S. election worry about a future 'orange house'

The beginning of the night started with cheers as some states went Democratic blue and the polls expected Hillary Clinton to be named the next president of the United States.

However, the atmosphere in Winnipeg venues quickly shifted as the electoral maps started to turn red on Tuesday night and some people began to wonder, as Jorge Aguelaput it,if it was going to become "the orange house."

"I feel disappointment," Stephen Sulik said. "I feel like a parent just like looking at their kid when they are making a really bad decision."

The Good Will on Portage Avenue was packed with people, including Sulik, who came out to watch the results roll in. As the night went on, the crowd stayed glued to the giant screen which had the results projected on it. As more red flowed across the screen the drinks continued to pour.

"I don't know if they are waiting to watch the world burn down or something but that seems like what Trump's all about," Sulik said.

People across the province are glued to screens as they watched the nail-bitter election results come in.

• Manitoba has highest proportion of Trump supporters, poll suggests
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When Donald Trump took Florida, ShyanMactavish began to cry.

"I'm very fragile right now. [I] cried three times so far," she said.

"I'm just very upset about the fact that it could be a very momentous moment for women with the first woman president, but there's just so much negativity about women and sexism in this campaign."

People were talking about the lost opportunity of the first female president, but there were also a lot of conversations about the global market and what it could mean here at home.

"They are our biggest trading partner .... It really does impact everyone," Van Penner said.

Trying to see the cup half full, Aguela said if it comes to a Trump presidency, everyone will just have to accept it.

"We will see how the first 100 days of a Trump presidency goes," he said. "There is a lot of uncertainty and that's really bad for markets and really bad for a lot of things."

Manitobans in the U.S. geek out over election

Manitobans outside of Canada's borders have been watching very closely.

Karen Rozcnick is from Winnipeg but now lives in Los Angeles. She is a dual citizen but it was her first time voting in an American election in person.

"Being in person and voting in the American election, I totally geeked out. It was the best thing," she said.

While the excitement was clear, Rozcnick said there's also a lot of concern.

"People just want this election over with but it's a very important election," she said.

In Arizona, Manitoban Ross Mackling sat back in the sunshine and watched his neighbours head to the polls. He said he was heading to an election party but the atmosphere could change depending on the outcome.

"It's going to be a fun night but maybe that could be tempered by the results," he said.