SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Democratic activists loyal to Sen. Bernie Sanders and aren’t ready to give up after their favored candidate came tantalizingly close but fell short of taking control of the California Democratic Party.

“Berniecrats” and like-minded Democrats looking to shake up their party leadership refused Sunday to accept election results and demanded validation in the race for party chairman.

The conflict inflames a bitter divide in a party whose leaders are trying hard to unify behind the goal of stymieing President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress.

After Sanders was defeated by Hillary Clinton in last year’s presidential primary and Congressman Keith Ellison lost his bid for Democratic National Committee chair, Saturday’s election felt like a third punch in the gut to Sanders-aligned activists. They’ve pushed the Democratic Party to reject money from wealthy interests, deriding many in the party’s establishment as corporate Democrats.

“Things are going to get tough for the Democratic Party, and if they don’t want the Republicans to win then they need to work with us,” said Bryan Hash, a Sanders supporter, said Saturday shortly after results were announced.