ROCHESTER, N.Y. — In the weeks leading up to the election, thousands of people made the pilgrimage to the Rochester grave site of the suffragist whose fight helped women earn the right to vote. On the morning after Donald Trump’s victory, a smaller number returned to the final resting place of Susan B. Anthony. Emotions ran the gamut.

Deborah Pierce visited Mount Hope Cemetery to pay her respects. She also came to mourn.

“I really really thought we could do it this time,” said Pierce, who voted for Kamala Harris. “I really thought we could do it. I really thought we could elect a woman who was competent.”

In a time when women could not vote, Susan B. Anthony became a pioneer. 

“I feel that she is a huge part of my right to do that,” said Harris supporter Emma Goldberg. “So I wanted to pay respect to her and thank her in a way.”

Anthony’s grave site has become an election day gathering spot — just as it was the day after Donald Trump defeated Kamala Harris to become the nation’s 47th president.

“I think it’s a mix of surprise, grief and fear,” said Goldberg.

Most of the people who visited the cemetery Tuesday morning voted for Harris — but not everyone.

“I was very happy,” said Trump supporter Kim Charron. “I didn’t think it would go that way, but it did.”

Charron came with a friend who voted for Harris.

“We were on opposite sides,” she said. “But we thought we needed this, to show we still cared for each other as individuals.”

“I wanted to see the people mourning at Susan B. Anthony’s grave,” said Tom Harvey, who voted for Trump.  

Harvey took photos of Anthony’s grave during his visit. He said the Biden-Harris administration vilified himself and people like him. He’s happy with the election results.

“I feel that this administration has treated men like me like crap,” he said. “So I was happy to see that they lost big time last night.”

“I wouldn’t say I’m surprised,” said Claire Kross. “I think a lot of people are shocked and taken off guard, but I kind of saw this coming.”

Kross worries about the erosion of rights for women, transgender people, the LGBTQ+ community and minorities.

“There's a lot of anxiety about kind of what's unknown,” she said.

“Even though I may not be pleased with the results of the election, I still think it’s important to celebrate the fact that I was able to vote,” said Devin LaRue, who supported Harris.  “I have a vote and I was able to use it in the way I believe.”

In a democracy, there are winners and losers. For Pierce, what wasn’t lost on Tuesday — is hope.

“There will be another election,” she said. “We’ll just have to keep trying.  Susan B. didn’t give up. So many people have fought. I really thought we had it this time.”