MIDDLETOWN, Del. This is what democracy looks like.

Its been a chant that has animated marches and protests around the country since the day after Donald Trump was inaugurated president, but its been more aspirational than descriptive. On Saturday, in a state Senate district in Delaware that stretches from Middletown to Newark, the voices in the streets turned into votes in the ballot box.

In the most expensive special election in Delaware history a contest to decide which party controls the state Senate Democrat Stephanie Hansen was on track to annihilate her Republican rival on the back of extraordinary turnout.

The last time her opponent, John Marino, ran in this district, in 2014, he lost by just 2 points. Hansens 58-42 percent victory over Marino on Saturday ensured that Democrats will maintain control of the state Senate. It also notched a big Donald Trump -era win for a new generation of Democratic activists shocked into action by the November election.

We turned back that win from Washington and made sure it wont hit Delaware, Hansen said in her victory speech Saturday night.

While Hansens campaign was focused on local issues, she saw a huge swell of support after nationwide Womens March protests on Jan. 21. Protesters, many of them out in the streets for the first time, have been turning their energy toward local and state politics. The first major election since the uprising was Delawares.

Hansens campaign received huge support. More than 1,000 volunteers worked during the course of the campaign, and about 500 many from nearby states showed up Saturday for Election Day. Hansen received more than 14,000 contributions of less than $100 from small donors spread all over the country.

Thats more volunteers than Ive had in nine elections, exclaimed state Sen. Dave Sokola (D), of Hansens Election Day workers.

Its overwhelming to see all these people, said Kelly Wright, a resident of Hansens district. Its making me emotional to see that people come take a bus two-plus hours away.

The turnout of volunteers made a huge difference as Hansen crushed her Republican opponent with unusually high turnout for a special election.

Lets take this movement national, former Vice President Joe Biden . a Delaware resident, exhorted to Hansen victory partiers Saturday night via phone.

Chuck Jackson, a Democratic district chair, said: Its really great the amount of people were seeing out. There is so much at stake.