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U.S. Sen. Mark Udall (D) visited campus Monday afternoon to get students out to vote in the midterm election.
Udall, an incumbent Democrat, is running a re-election campaign against U.S. Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Colorado. If Udall does not win re-election, the Republican Party could take control of the U.S. Senate following the November election.
Around 30 students turned out to hear Udall discuss his target issues including climate change, marriage equality and reproductive rights.
“There’s a clear choice in this election,” Udall said. “My policies, my record is a progressive record focusing on moving the state forward.”
Udall said he was happy to be on the Colorado State campus because his great grandfather used to be a professor on campus. After a few words, he stayed to meet students and take a few selfies, before moving on to campaign in more of Northern Colorado.
Udall spoke alongside Ilyse Hogue, President of NARAL Pro Choice America, who spoke about reproductive rights and why it is important for college students to vote on this issue.
“Reproductive healthcare is about trust,” Hogue said. “Cory Gardner does not trust you all about to make the best decisions for you, for your partners for your families. He knows that Mark Udall does.”
Hogue also noted how important it was for college students to turn out to this election.
“You guys matter more than they want you to believe that they matter,” Hogue said. “Your generation is the first generation where the television doesn’t matter, endorsements don’t matter. Your friends, your peers care what you think.”
She asked students to pledge to get 20 friends of theirs to vote in the election.
“If everyone can get 20 friends out, we’re not only gonna prove them wrong, but we’re gonna elect all of these incredible candidates to carry not just Colorado, but our country into the future,” Hogue said.
Voting opened today and is going until Nov. 4. Students can submit their ballot in the Lory Student Center, the Larimer County Courthouse or mail it in.
“College students, if they take just a few minutes, will see I want to move this state forward,” Udall said.
Collegian News Editor Hannah Hemperly can be reached at news@collegian.com or on Twitter @kawanhannah.
