Congressman Jared Polis speaks at a voting rally outside of Hellems on campus Friday. Polis was in attendance with Mark Udall to raise support for the democratic ticket and to encourage students to vote. (CU Independent/Patrick Ghidossi)
Both Sen. Bennet and Rep. Polis are up for reelection this voting season.
The Senate race between Bennet and Republican opponent Ken Buck is the closest in the country, according to a Democratic pollster and Fox News contributor. Campaign rally organizers said they hoped to motivate students and Boulder community residents to make sure their vote is counted, and to get students to the voting polls Nov. 2, Sen. Bennet said.
Sen. Bennet echoed this concern and encouraged the crowd to take the election seriously.
“This is not a joke,” he said. “This is the closest Senate race in the country and being four days away, this campus could make the difference. You do not want to wake up Nov. 3 and realize you had the opportunity to make a difference, but did not.”
A lot is at stake for Colorado students this year, including: expanded Pell grants, access to student loans, the demand for women and men to receive equal wages, healthcare and common-sense reform, Sen. Udall said.
“We are here for people out of work and to make sure college is more affordable, not less,” Sen. Bennet said. “This is about you, the college students on campus, getting out to vote.”
It is the students’ future he is fighting for in this election, he said.
“I couldn’t care less about this job, but what I do care about is your future,” Sen. Bennet said. “You are the ones that can make a difference in this election vote.”
Bennet has been referred to as the “candidate for students,” and is advocating for equal access to education, whereas Buck has been considered the opposite with issues such as the elimination and repeal of student loans and the elimination of some forms of birth control on his platform, speakers at the rally said.
Many students who attended said that Bennet was the right choice for the state and when the audience was asked how many had already voted, the majority of hands were raised.
“The main reason I have to vote for him is that the alternative seems very dangerous,” said Sydney Kaufman, a third-year chemical physics graduate student. “I strongly disagree with issues from his opponent and, in my mind, Bennet represents the student community.”
The opposing candidate seemed like the wrong choice for many who attended.
“I really strongly oppose everything Ken Buck does,” said Sean McCarthy, a 21-year-old English and international affairs major. “Colorado is a crucial place to vote and it is an important election. It is good to get people excited.”
Some students said they were still interested in what Bennet had to say, but were planning to vote the other way.
“I do not think I am going to support Bennet,” said Stefan Jarmusz, a 21-year-old senior integrated physics major. “A lot of the same things have been said in the past. Diversity is needed and Ken Buck would provide more of that.”
The notion to be involved was also shared by many who attended.
“It is important to get involved,” said Maggie Lowenberg, a junior international affairs major and intern for the “Jared Polis for Congress” campaign. “This is a great opportunity to see Senators Bennet and Udall so close to the election. This shows they care about the student vote.”
A Castle View High School student, Katherine Sutton, 17, and an intern for Bennet was in the crowd, and said she understands the importance of voting even though she’s not yet able to.
“The student body is huge, but no one really knows how to be more involved anymore,” Sutton said. “Students are a working part of our society, and we need to go out and get it. The focus on education is important, because I need to get student loans.”
Angelika Schroeder, the Democratic ballot nominee for the state board of education, was among audience members and spoke briefly, acknowledging the good turnout in attendance.
“What we do now is going to affect everyone going to school here,” Schroeder said. “We want to make sure Colorado is a good place to get education, from preschool to the top.”
People were encouraged to walk together after the rally and head to the Recreation center to early vote as well as talk to 10 of their friends to get them to make their vote count, speakers of the rally said.
For information on where and when to vote in Boulder, check out this website.
Contact CU Independent News Budget Editor Sheila V Kumar at Sheila.kumar@colorado.edu.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Christine Larsen at Christine.larsen@colorado.edu.
