Whitmer’s appearance marks her second visit to campus in two weeks after visiting her former sorority and speaking at a College Democrats meeting last Tuesday. 

In recent weeks, Democrats have relentlessly campaigned at MSU and the surrounding area as Kamala Harris and Donald Trump stand at a deadlock in state polling. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Sen. Bernie Sanders both spoke in East Lansing this semester and Kamala Harris will visit Lansing on Friday.

Also delivering speeches were U.S. House of Representatives candidate Curtis Hertel, State Sen. Sam Singh and State Rep. Julie Brixie. 

In his opening speech, Hertel flexed the fact that the MSU College Democrats are the largest College Democrats chapter in the country. However, the group inside the Union ballroom was largely split between grown adults and college students. Students on the MSU College Democrats mailing list did not receive notice of the event until 24 hours prior to its start.

During Whitmer’s remarks, student organizer Jesse Estrada White interrupted Whitmer to criticize Attorney General Dana Nessel’s decision to charge 11 individuals following pro-Palestinian protests at the University of Michigan. The interruption was greeted with groans and boos from the crowd, with chants of "we’re not going back" drowning out much of Estrada White’s comments. 

"11 of my friends have been arrested by Attorney General Dana Nessel," Estrada White shouted as he was escorted out of the room. "Gov. Whitmer, condemn the actions of your attorney general; protect the right to peacefully protest."

Shapiro, who was almost chosen to be Harris’ running mate, hammered on the differences between Harris and Trump, saying Trump is "bought and paid for" by the National Rifle Association, calling him a climate change denier and criticizing Trump for "bragging" about the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision.

Healy touched on many of the same notes as Shapiro, warning against the potential dangers of a second Trump presidency. In particular, she criticized Trump for wanting to "weaponize" the instruments of government against his political rivals. That, combined with his rampant spreading of disinformation, the Massachusetts governor said, make him too dangerous to return to power.

Moore, the governor of Maryland, laid out his argument plainly. Maryland, he said, is in no danger of voting Republican in this election cycle. Michigan, however, is a much tighter race that will likely be decided on the tightest of margins. College students will be instrumental in Michigan voting blue, he said.

Moore discussed how college students were instrumental in his 2022 campaign for the governor’s mansion. Their influence, he said, was not just in them pledging to vote on election day but in their willingness to spread the word through any means available. 

"It was college students in Maryland that made sure we won that race," Moore said. "It will be college students who will make sure that Kamala Harris becomes the next president of the United States."

As Whitmer concluded the evening, she emphasized the crucial nature of the remaining weeks until election day. She commanded the audience to not "write anyone off, wear them down if you have to" so that they’d be able to wake up on Nov. 6 knowing they did everything they could to ensure a Democratic victory.

"We have the power," Whitmer said. "It is on us, how we’re going to spend the next 18 days. We make that choice. The way we vote is going to determine everyone’s fate, not just in Michigan, not just in this country, but around the world."