CENTRE COUNTY — Political leaders from both the Democratic and Republican parties have made their way to Centre County in an effort to influence voting decisions in the upcoming November election.
Former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy first arrived in Centre County on Thursday, Oct. 17, to give a speech at Penn State’s Sparks Building. The stop was a part of Turning Point USA’s “You’re Being Brainwashed Tour.”
At the event, the 347-person capacity was exceeded with close to 75 additional people sitting in the aisles of the venue.
Ramaswamy spoke on his backstory and his entry into the world of politics and encouraged students to vote in the upcoming election, noting the importance of the November election for the country.
After speaking, Ramaswamy answered audience questions on religion, business and entrepreneurship, the presidential nominees, climate change, the Israel-Palestine conflict and more.
The following day, U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez arrived in State College for a rally on behalf of Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and running mate Tim Walz. Ocasio-Cortez spoke for just under a half-hour at the State Theatre on the importance of the upcoming election and her political experience.
The theater reached its maximum capacity of 591 people, but Ocasio-Cortez took time to speak to a group of people outside of the theater who did not get in before the capacity was met.
The event began with remarks by State College Mayor Ezra Nanes, Penn State College Democrats President Baybars Charkas and Penn State Students for Harris President Sydney Robinson.
Five Democratic governors from notable swing states — Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Maine Gov. Janet Mills — then made their way to Centre County on Sunday, Oct. 20, in an effort to continue to drum up support for Harris and Walz.
Close to 200 people gathered for the event at Penn State, beginning with an introduction to the governors by Nanes, Rep. Paul Takac, attorney general candidate Eugene DePasquale and Centre County Commissioners Amber Concepcion and Mark Higgins.
“This election, it’s all about our future, about making sure we protect our planet, addressing gun violence in our communities, doing positive things that are going to lift people up, restoring rights in our community,” Shapiro said during the rally, noting that a vote for Harris was not just a vote against Republican nominee Donald Trump but also a vote for “a more positive, inclusive future.”
The final wave of political figures included a stop by “Team Trump,” a bus tour featuring Abel Maldonado, former lieutenant governor of California; Kash Patel, former Department of Defense chief of staff under Trump; and Monica Crowley, former assistant secretary of the Treasury for public affairs.
The tour stop, originally scheduled for a Penn State’s Acacia Fraternity house on Tuesday, Oct. 22, was moved to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
Though named “Team Trump,” the former president and current nominee was not in attendance at the event. However, the event aligned with an announcement from the Trump campaign that the former president would be holding a rally on Saturday, Oct. 26, at 4 p.m. at the Bryce Jordan Center. Doors for the event will open at noon.
