The morning after a shocker of an Election Day, Congressman Seth Moulton reassured stunned North Shore Democrats that the country will endure under President-elect Donald Trump’s administration.

“We didn’t imagine something like this would have happened, but we have to move on,” said Moulton in front of a standing-room-only ballroom of Salem’s Waterfront Hotel. “It’s going to be tough – obviously.”

He said that, historically, the country’s been through far more difficult times and come out for the better, pointing to the War of 1812, the Civil War and the Great Depression.

The early-morning breakfast, organized by Moulton’s campaign, was meant to be a celebratory one, a thank you from the congressman to his legion of volunteers. Instead, pessimism lingered in the air as they faced the reality of a continuation of a Republican-controlled House and Senate as well as Trump in the White House.

Some welled with tears. Others looked sleep deprived after staying up to watch poll results in a nail-bitter of a presidential contest. Many asked: How did this happen?

Renee Keaney, Marblehead Democratic Town Committee chairman, was optimistic Democrat Hillary Clinton would come out victorious after a whirlwind of a weekend on the stump for Clinton in New Hampshire.

“We’ve been going up to New Hampshire since Labor Day weekend canvassing,” she said. “It's bizarre the things Trump got away with, and he even empowered people to freely hate.”

She went on to say how surreal it feels that the electorate chose “a salesman” who’s never held pubic office over a stateswoman who has served as first lady, a New York senator and secretary of state.

Moulton said that, on the campaign trial, Trump has been one of the most indecisive candidates on policy.

“He changes his mind every five seconds,” said Moulton, “so it’s going to be hard really knowing what his policy agenda is.”

Democrats, he said, must put checks and balances back in place, but the next chance to do just that won’t come until the 2018 midterms (when he also speculated someone will challenge him on the coat tails of Trump’s victory.)

One man in the crowd suggested “a ray of sunshine” exists: Some congressional Republicans have denounced Trump, and thus open aisle-crossing opportunities to forge bills in bipartisanship.

Moulton reminded everyone: “We can’t forget that there are still good Republicans in Congress.”

Another worry some expressed, aside from Trump controlling nuclear warhead codes, was the future makeup of the Supreme Court.

Fifth District Governor’s Council member Eileen Duff, one of eight who approve the governor’s judicial appointments, said she worried about a potential erosion of civil liberties – should Trump pick far right Supreme Court justices.

“The game has changed, and you’re going to see us scrutinize appointments (especially Massachusetts Appeals Court judges) more than we ever have in the past,” said Duff, whom voters elected to a third term Tuesday night. “My job is more important than it’s ever been.”

Moulton pledged himself to do whatever is in his power to stop Trump from acting on his campaign promise to ban Muslims from entering the country.

“We’re going to fight every day to make sure that doesn’t happen and uphold our fundamental values enshrined in the Constitution,” said Moulton.

Chris Sicuranza, director of communication and constituent services in Gloucester City Hall, said an intraparty conversation among Democrats should be had. In hindsight, he said maybe a candidate like Sens. Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren would have been better suited to defeat Trump. He still maintains a positive outlook even though the presidential election didn’t come out the way he hoped.

“It isn’t game over,” he said. “It is just time for us to press the reset button.”