Most of the taco buffet was gone when Randy Parraz finally arrived at the Citizens for a Better Arizona party at 8:11 p.m., but he came with news that brought a cheer from the 100 or so guests.

“It’s 53 to 45, we’re up by 1,000,” Parraz announced as he reached out a hand to Sen. Steve Gallardo and embraced him.

Even though the organization, which gathered the signatures to recall Senate President Russell Pearce, had consistently said it wasn’t affiliated with Pearce’s challenger, the crowd paid tribute to him.

“Jerry, Jerry, Jerry, Jerry,” people chanted for political newcomer Jerry Lewis as they crowded around a flat-screen television showing the results.

The party was held at the Wright House in west Mesa, a primly, decorous reception center where Lewis launched his campaign.

Parraz, who organized the recall effort, said that his group didn’t side with Lewis, but the idea behind the recall was to give Republicans “room to maneuver” and choose an alternative to Pearce.

The party was attended by volunteers in yellow T-shirts emblazoned with “Paz en Accion,” or “Peace in Action,” worn by Mesa-area Democrats like City Councilman Dennis Kavanaugh and Pearce critics like Salvador Reza.

Gallardo said Pearce’s absence will be a “game changer” in terms of the types of legislation that will be introduced and moved.

Gone will be the radical immigration bills.

“You’re going to have (Sens.) Al Melvin or Steve Smith trying to push that type of bill, but it’s not going to go anywhere,” Gallardo said.

Before the vote tally was announced, people throughout the party were saying the success of the recall should give notice to other Republicans such as Gov. Jan Brewer, Sen. Ron Gould and Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio.