Donald Trump's victory in the presidential election, despite polls that indicated otherwise, surprised many across the country.

In southeastern Connecticut, many residents — both those who voted for Trump and those who didn't — said they, too, hadn't expected the results.

As they went about their daily business on Wednesday, some residents said they were ready for a change in the "status quo," while others expressed concerns.

“I’m still in disbelief,” Jeffrey Jones, an IT specialist from Groton, said on Wednesday at the Groton Shopping Plaza. “You’ve got to accept what the American people voted for.”

Still, he found it shocking that, after all the polls, key states went to Trump.

“For him to actually win the states that he won, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida. It was just unbelievable,” Jones said.

Lisa Hedge, a receptionist from New London, was happy with the results. She voted for Trump but didn’t think he would win. She’d started out discouraged, but then stayed up until 1:30 a.m., realizing he was making it happen.

She didn’t feel the shock and disbelief that Hillary Clinton supporters felt as the night went on, she said.

“I wasn’t shocked,” she said. “But then, I didn’t have the hope when I voted.”

Jennifer Conyers, a salon owner from Groton, said she wasn’t shocked at all, “unfortunately.”

“There’s no unity,” she said. “Everyone’s out for themselves. And you’re picking one of the lesser of two evils. You never think an election will be that way.” Her daughter is a freshman at the University of Connecticut, and she ponders how different it must be for her.

“I remember being young and being excited” about elections, Conyers said. “Kids these days, they’re scared.”

As he waited for a sandwich at Giuliano's Bakery in Niantic on Wednesday, Rick Bottaro said he was pleasantly surprised that Trump, whom he supported, had won. 

"I thought he would bring more change to the country," Bottaro said about his reasons for supporting Trump. He said he felt the country needs change on issues, including Obamacare, income taxes and immigration laws.

He said he thinks a lot of people were committed to Trump, but not "telling the world" their opinions. 

His wife, Kathy, who supported Clinton, said she was shocked with the results.

"I'm shocked that people would let their anger over the status quo overshadow his lack of specific policies," she said.

Bob Lalas of Niantic, who was walking on the Niantic Bay Boardwalk in the afternoon, said he had turned on the radio at 2:30 a.m. Wednesday and couldn't sleep after he heard Trump's speech accepting victory. Lalas said he was mulling over the impact of this upset.

"I fear for things that Obama has accomplished, like his medical program, Obamacare, and I wonder if the temperament of Donald Trump is going to be up to the situations he'll face for the next four years," he said.

Tom Wardell of Ledyard was bringing his 3-year-old son to get his hair cut at Crewcuts and Curls in North Stonington on Wednesday. Wardell said he was surprised by the outcome of the election but Trump's personality had appealed to him.

"If something stunk, he would tell you it stunk," he said.

Wardell agreed with Trump on several issues including a stricter immigration policy.

"I hope that Trump can make a change," he said.

Preston Frantz, a builder and contractor in Old Lyme, said he was up all night watching the news and was surprised because he thought Trump had offended too many people during the election to win.

Frantz voted for Trump. His reasons included that he thought Hillary Clinton's administration would have continued the "status quo" and led the country further into debt. He said many Americans are fed up with taxation and the poor distribution of wealth. 

"'Let's bring back jobs to America' — he had a great message, and obviously it resonated," he added.

Zack Sandrelli and Liz Stedman, who are employees at the Dunkin' Donuts on Route 2 in North Stonington, said they were waiting to see if Trump will carry out what he said during the campaign. Neither of them voted in the election.

Stedman said she would have voted for Trump and that the mainstream media was too focused on his past scandals, although she was worried about his rhetoric about immigrants who already live in the U.S.

“I’m kind of anxious to see how things turn out,” she said.

Dan Busby, 18, who voted in his first election Tuesday, along with his mother, Jen, both of Richmond, R.I., were picking up drinks at the coffee shop.

He said many of his friends were joking around on Facebook about the election beforehand but many of them did not vote, and the attitude changed this morning.

“I was just like, well, we’re screwed,” he said.

Friends and family were very worried about a Trump presidency, they said, and a family they were close with had been looking into moving to Germany.

Most of all, they were both worried that Trump would draw the country into unnecessary wars.

“I think it’s a fear of how he will react,” Jen Busby said, “because he does react to everything.”

Workers behind the counter at Poppy & Rye Bakery Cafe in the Taftville section of Norwich said they think people are being "over-dramatic" in general about Trump's surprise victory and the election in general.

"With the people who have talked about it, it was 'either way wouldn't be good,'" cafe employee Jenn Brissette said.

Brissette said she considers herself a straightforward, honest person who says what's on her mind, "so I was leaning with Trump." She voted for the president-elect.

Tom Adams, cafe co-owner, wouldn't say whom he voted for but stayed up into the early morning hours Wednesday watching results. Adams said he hopes Trump brings in qualified advisers to help him govern the nation.

"I'm just a little concerned whether Trump will be able to learn the job," Adams said, "and surround himself with good advisers and be able to put together a good team."

Bill Mountzoures, a Democrat who serves on East Lyme's Zoning Board of Appeals, was drinking coffee at Dunkin' Donuts in Niantic on Wednesday. He said he was surprised and believed Clinton "had campaigned well and for the people and deserved to be president." But he said Americans are fortunate that every four years they elect a president and have a peaceful transition to a presidency.

"We have to stand behind the person whom the American people elected into office," he said. "Otherwise, what good is the function of democracy? You have to put a lot things behind you sometimes, and I hope president-elect Donald Trump from here on in will consider all Americans as equals, and not just certain factions."

Customers and vendors chatted Wednesday afternoon about the election at the Salem Trading Post just south of Salem Four Corners.

Gina Murphy, who owns the store, said it was great to see so many people come out to vote, but she was ready for the election to be over.

"I know I had had enough," she said. "I didn't want to see any more."

Day Staff Writers Claire Bessette, Deborah Straszheim, Nate Lynch and Amanda Hutchinson contributed to this report.

k.drelich@theday.com