Three of the candidates vying for the right to challenge Jackie Walorski in the mid-term election had a debate Tuesday night at IUSB.

Democrats Mel Hall, Yatish Joshi and Pat Hackett took the stage Tuesday night. It was the first of two debates hosted by the League of Women’s Voters, IUSB’s Political Science Club and the American Democracy Project.

The debate had a turnout in the hundreds, and a second event has been planned.

“We have a lot more visibility over what’s happening in our country and what’s happening in Congress so there are more people that want to go out and make a difference and make a change,” voter Allyson Smith told ABC 57. “So we’re going to see a lot more people showing up to the polls.”

A big topic for the democratic candidates was the NRA.  Taking money from special interests was also front and center during the discussion.