On Tuesday, Oct. 23, United States Senator Kamala Harris of California visited UNI’s campus as part of an initiative to encourage voting ahead of the Nov. 6 mid-term elections.

Harris, a Democrat who served as California’s Attorney General from 2011 to 2017 and elected into the U.S. Senate in 2016, was also spending the day campaigning for Iowa Democrats seeking election to state offices. One of those with her was Deidre DeJear, who is running against incumbent Republican Paul Pate for Iowa Secretary of State.

“The secretary of state is such an important office,” Harris said as she spoke outside the West Gym. “It will be about upholding one of the most important pillars and symbols of what it means to have a democracy.”

A Harris has been rumored to be one of several politicians considering running for president in 2020.

With the midterm elections less than two weeks away, UNI is holding early voting a for staff and students on Thursday Oct. 25 in Maucker Union from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.