As 8pm rolled around at O’Flaherty’s Irish Pub on San Pedro Square, where the Sam Liccardo’s victory party was taking place, Tim Hennessey, Liccardo’s Republican opponent, walked by the crowded pub. The former Johnny V’s bouncer-turned-candidate approached Kyra Kazantzis, a local lawyer and Liccardo campaign volunteer, as she was strolling into the party.

“He asked me, ‘Is that Sam Liccardo’s party?’” she said. When she responded yes, “He said, ‘I’m Sam’s running mate, Tim Hennessey.’” He then bid adieu and walked away in his immaculate suit.

A 12-piece Irish band with fiddles, fifes and accordions entertained the Guinness-drinking, chicken wing–munching crowd of about 70 people as Liccardo coasted to an easy victory. San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed showed up to congratulate the presumed winner, who was nowhere to be found, but Fly had to buzz to the next food spread.

As we jogged down the street in heels, ubiquitous District 6 Councilman Pierluigi Oliverio blew past us on his way to O’Flaherty’s, his Zack Morris hair flapping in the wind. “Now there’s a reporter,” he shouted from the other side of San Pedro as we galloped past.