University Democrats rallied in support of Democratic candidates in this year’s general election at an event featuring Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) at the Hogg Memorial Auditorium Tuesday. A volunteer from Rep. Greg Casar’s (D-TX) office said over 1,000 people were in attendance.
“I have been following specifically Sen. Sanders and Rep. Ocasio-Cortez since they started running,” said Julius McIntyre, a public affairs graduate student who attended the rally. “Their movement has been super monumental for me, especially being a progressive young person.”
The rally comes a week after a Texas Hispanic Policy Foundation poll showed Rep. Colin Allred (D-TX-32), the Democratic nominee for Senate, trailing incumbent Republican Sen. Ted Cruz by three percentage points, with a margin of error of just under 3%.
Polls conducted by the online poll aggregator 538 show former President Donald Trump ahead of Vice President Kamala Harris by around 6% in Texas, with an unspecified margin of error.
“I came here to make sure that Kamala Harris wins this state,” Sanders said. “Texas, you will transform this country. If Kamala wins Texas, the election is over. Hands down. And (with) the Senate seat we got a chance to maintain Democratic control over the Senate. It’s a big deal.”
In their remarks, Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX-37) and former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-TX-16) criticized Texas Republicans’ policies on issues such as abortion. Currently, Texas law only permits abortions in cases where the pregnancy threatens the life of the mother. Doggett said part of this election is determining whether or not a similar ban could be enacted nation-wide.
On the national stage, Sanders criticized Trump’s campaign and rhetoric, while also emphasizing his belief that democracy is at stake in the upcoming election.
“All over the world right now, democracy itself is on the defensive,” Sanders said. “That is a significant part of what this campaign is about. You have a candidate in Donald Trump who lost the election in 2020 and then supported an insurrection to try to defeat the candidate who won.”
Sanders also attacked Trump’s climate policy and lack of support for middle class Americans. Sanders specifically called for a $17 an hour minimum wage, with Ocasio-Cortez joining him in support of the Protect Worker’s Right to Organize Act, a proposed law protecting laborers striking for higher compensation.
This follows campaign events by prominent Democrats, including second gentleman Doug Emhoff, across the I-35 corridor, which ranges from Austin to San Antonio.
Public affairs graduate student Sophia Odom said Sanders’ tax policy position supporting an increase on corporate tax rates up to 5%, as well as his comments on the housing crisis, resonated with her specifically.
“(Sanders) didn’t make any points of division, he really used this as a rallying cry for students to be aware and focus on what’s plaguing our country right now,” Odom said.
Election day is Nov. 5 with early voting running from Oct. 21 through Nov. 1. The deadline to register to vote is Oct. 7.
