Gubernatorial candidate Ed FitzGerald (in blue tie) poses with supporters on Nov. 4 at the Ohio Union. Credit: Molly Tavoletti / Lantern photographer

Gubernatorial candidate Ed FitzGerald (in blue tie) poses with supporters on Nov. 4 at the Ohio Union. Credit: Molly Tavoletti / Lantern photographer

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ed FitzGerald stopped by the Ohio Union on Tuesday evening for a brief visit before the polls closed at 7:30 p.m.

FitzGerald — the Cuyahoga County executive — is a candidate along with his running mate Sharen Neuhardt.

FitzGerald said he’s learned how to stand on his own against his Republican opponent, incumbent Gov. John Kasich, who’s raised more money and has led in the polls.

“I’ve run for local office before and I’ve been outspent, but you’re able to overcome that with a grassroots campaign,” he told The Lantern. “It’s tougher to do it at statewide level, that’s been our biggest challenge of the campaign.”

Jimmy Alford, a fourth-year in security and intelligence and psychology and president of College Democrats at OSU, said he thinks it’s important that students make their voices heard through the ballot box.

“I think traditionally we’re a group that doesn’t have the loudest voice in government and I think it’s important for college students to understand that they can actually be heard and make a difference in politics and in policy,” he said at the FitzGerald appearance Tuesday.

Louree Hankins, a third-year in food business management, said Tuesday’s midterm election is more important than the presidential election.

“A lot of people think that the general election in four years is the only election, but actually your local government is actually more important than the larger election, unfortunately,” Hankins said. “A lot of people don’t realize that a lot of local issues affect them much greater than issues made at the White House, so I think that it’s important to vote locally with your government as well as general.”