HOUSTON — With 48 days to go until Election Day, the name of the game for both parties is voter registration. Democrat Beto O'Rourke brought his Ready To Vote college tour to the University of Houston on Wednesday looking to sign up as many new voters as possible.
"This state makes it harder than any other to vote and to register to vote, so we have to work harder than anyone else to reach these non-voting registered Texans," O'Rourke said.
College campuses across Texas will be targeted by campaigns for the next 19 days.
"You have the power to decide this election," O'Rourke told the crowd.
O'Rourke and his group Powered by the People are working to register as many voters as possible. Many are first-time voters.
"It's time to make my voice heard," Danielle Ruiz said.
Young people who registered Wednesday said they're feeling the energy.
"With Joe Biden running it was less enthusiasm," Ruiz said. "It was like I guess we'll vote for him, but with Kamala, there's more enthusiasm. It's such a different energy to the campaign."
18-29-year-olds will be a key voting bloc come November. Vice President Kamala Harris is performing better with young voters than President Joe Biden was months ago, but former President Donald Trump is making inroads.
Democrats in Texas hoping to boost their margins with less than two months to go.
"In 2020, at this time Republicans had a 16-point advantage, at this time in 2024, Democrats have a 10-point advantage, that's a 26-point swing, and I think it has a lot to do with student leadership at the University of Houston and our candidate Kamala Harris," O'Rourke said.
O'Rourke will continue traveling to college campuses across Texas for voter registration drives through Oct. 7.
KHOU 11 News reached out to Republican student groups at UH and did not hear back.