Island Democrats turned out in droves on Saturday for the Democratic caucus, where they gave impassioned speeches, listened to their neighbors weigh in and cast their votes for who they believe will be the best person to lead the country forward.

The official results from Vashon will not be available for a few weeks while they are being reviewed by the Washington State Democrats, according to party spokesman Jamal Raad, but caucus organizer March Twisdale confirmed that Vashon voted in line with the rest of Washington.

“The island likes Bernie,” she said. “While there were passionate Hillary supporters, the island was leaning toward Bernie.”

The caucus, which Twisdale estimates drew about 1,800 people, was the largest event the Open Space for Arts & Community has ever hosted, according to Maria Glanz, its development and communication director, who participated in the event as a voter, not as an employee. The proceedings, which took the better part of two hours, drew high praise from some, including Glanz, and critical remarks from others, although the criticism typically centered on the caucus process itself, not how it was carried out on Vashon.

Glanz, among the many islanders who weighed in on social media afterward, participated on Saturday with her 11-year-old son, who is extremely interested in politics and chose to stay until the very end. On Facebook and in a later conversation, she said she was so moved by the event she teared up.

“There was something about being there with 1,000 or more people to talk about our political process and what we wanted that was really emotional,” she said, noting she grew teary during the Pledge of Allegiance and when Sen. Sharon Nelson (D-Maury Island) spoke about Democratic values.

“That we were all there because we believe passionately in what we have to do to make the country better was just awesome,” she said

“There are easier ways to vote, and I do not want them to go away. And it was fabulous that people came to together to talk … and listen to each other,” she added.

Ivan Weiss, an islander and former two-term chair of the 34th District Democrats who has run both precinct and legislative district caucuses, said he was impressed on Saturday.

“This (caucus) at the Open Space was by far the best one I have been to on Vashon,” he said, crediting Twisdale. “She did a masterful job. … It looked chaotic coming in the door, but it came together amazingly well.”

Twisdale credits some 45 volunteers with helping the event go as smoothly as it did and indicated that nearly 500 volunteer hours went into planning and carrying it out.

While Glanz and others spoke about enjoying the messy, Democratic process, some left-leaning islanders chose to stay away — or attended begrudgingly. Kathy Abascal was among that group.

“If I had had the option of voting absentee, I would not have gone,” she said, adding she thought she was going to be asked to spend hours listening to people try to change her mind or be expected to try change theirs. In reality, that portion was low-key in her Cross precinct, she said, but she still had difficulty with the amount of time it required of her personally — affecting a family event and a writing deadline — and the challenges caucuses pose in principle.

“It seemed not Democratic, with voting available only to people who can spare a couple hours on a Saturday,” she said.

With caucuses slated to run for two hours, with early arrival recommended, they exclude a host of people, she added, including parents with children who have commitments, those with sick families that need tending to and individuals who have jobs that do not allow for two hours or more off on a Saturday morning.

She noted she believes the caucus process and some people’s negative feelings about it mirror the anxiety many people are expressing about superdelegates and their power.

“The process does not reflect the Democratic vote, rounding up and down, including only the people who can come,” she said. “It seems like a really bizarre process.”

Twisdale, too, acknowledged the difficulties that can arise with caucuses and how time-consuming they are.

“It was particularly challenging to meet the needs of people who could not give the whole morning to the event,” she said. “It was not always an easy problem to solve.”

Prior to the caucus, Twisdale said one of the goals for the day was creating and maintaining a respectful atmosphere; she believes the caucus was a success in that regard, as she saw no rude behavior and heard no snide remarks.

“Everyone seemed to bring their all. They brought their community spirit with them,” she said. “I think Vashon-Maury Islanders have every reason to be happy with each other.”