On Monday evening, the College Democrats at UAB hosted a conversational event with former U.S. Senator Doug Jones in the Hill Student Center’s Alumni Theater.

Jones is one of the Democratic candidates running for governor in May’s primary election. If he wins, he will move on to the state’s general election on November 3rd and be the first Democratic governor to attain the office since Don Siegelman was elected more than 27 years ago.

Jones discussed his motivations for holding the event on campus and collaborating with the College Democrats at UAB.

“The main thing for me is that it is part campaign, [because] I want everybody that came here to vote for me, but the other part of it is just to get feedback from folks on what they’re caring about. The questions were really good, and you can tell [what they care about] from the questions, and that helps me formulate what I’ll do on the campaign trail, but also what I’ll do when I get elected. So I think, especially with this generation, that it’s really important to hear,” Jones stated.

When asked about the importance of the upcoming election season to students at UAB, Jones said, “If [students] like the status quo, then this election can come and go. If they want change, if they think that Alabama can be better, and if they think that this campus can be better, then they need to vote for that change, and the only way they can vote for that change, I think, is to vote for me this time. I think the other side is not gonna present that change.”

Towards the end of the event, Jones was asked what students could do to make a difference in state politics. Jones quoted the late civil rights activist and statesman, John Lewis, “Your vote is the most significant nonviolent way to make change.” To the same question, Jones further stated, “I would try to get involved in some civic education on issues that you care about…Go watch the county commission, go watch the city council, go watch what happens in Montgomery, and get depressed.”