Chemistry grad student Aaron Jacobs was eager to come and hear from Whitmer as soon as he heard she was coming.

“I haven’t really attended anything like this before but I saw Gretchen Whitmer’s gonna be here so that was a big motivator for me,” Jacobs said. “I look up to her in a lot of ways.”

One of those reasons Jacobs looked up to her was for her stance on preserving rights. Human biology junior Makenzi Forgie came with the same hope.

“I just thought it would be cool to see (Whitmer) speak in person and just kinda highlight her core values,” Forgie said. “Which she did, talking about gun control and reproductive rights.”

Arriving in a bus with their faces on the side, Whitmer and Hertel showed up soon after a crowd had gathered. A quick introduction was done by MSU Dems President Liam Richichi. Hertel then took the floor.

“Your future is on the ballot as we head into the polls,” Hertel said.

He talked further about the importance of the youth vote and encouraged students to come join him in marching to the Communication Arts and Sciences building where early voting polls are currently available.

After Hertel, Whitmer took hold of the megaphone and led the crowd in a “Go green! Go white! Go vote!” cheer. She thanked everyone for coming and talked about how she is impacted by and learns from students and members Generation Z.

“I just do what the young people tell me,” Whitmer said.

Whitmer continued to rally the crowd and talk about the importance of voting and the next seven days leading up to the election.

“This generation is gonna live with the consequences of this election longer than any of the rest of us are,” Whitmer said. “You get the biggest stake in the outcome of this election.”

Hertel agreed on her sentiments regarding the importance of the youth vote and nodded in agreement as Whitmer said she looks forward to the day she can vote for someone younger than her for the position of governor.

Whitmer boarded her bus but Hertel stayed to lead the way to ComArtSci. Students clad with “Spartans for Harris Walz” signs walked to go and cast their vote.

Richichi saw this as an important part of the event and, like Whitmer and Hertel, emphasized the importance of the youth vote in Michigan.

“Michigan, as a whole, the youth vote is massive just because we’re such a swing state," Richichi said. "We want to make sure we’re all getting out. Especially in the seventh congressional district and in mid-Michigan where we’re super competitive. We’re the heartbeat of the state.”