The U.S. Senate race between Claire McCaskill, the Democratic incumbent and Josh Hawley, a Republican, has garnered national attention. Here is what Boone County voters are saying about it:

“Claire (McCaskill) has a proven track record of working across party lines in the Senate. I don’t have the same confidence in Josh Hawley.”

Emily Love, 27, director at MU Division of Inclusion, Diversity & Equity, Columbia

“I’m supporting Claire (McCaskill). She’s done a great job for citizens of Missouri.”

Casey Forbis, 37, attorney, Columbia

“I’m out here to vote for Josh Hawley. I think we’re just ready for a change in Missouri.”

Katie Rouse, 29, teacher, Ashland

“There’s a lot of misrepresentation and inequality persisting in America, not even just in Missouri. I feel like I’m not allowed to complain about it or be upset about it unless I vote to change or vote for a change.”

Jill Paska, 21, senior English major student, Columbia

“I’m from Texas. This my first semester here in Columbia. Gosh, I had seen a lot of negative advertisements against Sen. Claire McCaskill. I weighed my options and I judged Beto O’Rourke (U.S. Senator candidate in Texas) is probably going to win back in Texas. And Sen. McCaskill needs all the help she can get, so I registered to vote here. I hope she will win.”

Argon Gruber, 29, doctoral student in philosophy, Columbia

“We’re Democrats. We wanted to vote for Claire McCaskill and everything she stands for.”

Ollie Washington, 73, retired, Columbia

“I have a daughter. I think it’s important to show her at a young age to do your civic duty, even if your candidate doesn’t win. The country is looking at Missouri for the Senate race. It could help shape the rest of the country.”

Meghan Carr, 34, MU Cashier’s Office, Columbia

“I think the whole kit and caboodle is important, especially the McCaskill race. I have been voting all my life since I was eligible. Every election is important.”

B. Clark, 85, retired, Columbia

“The Senate obviously means quite a bit, and it only comes up every six years. And with the race pretty close this year, it’s important to get out and vote. I think Claire will ultimately push out on campus, but as far as the state as a whole, it’s gonna be a close one.”

Blake Willoughby, 21, MU student, Columbia

“I’m mostly passionate about the Senate race. I care a lot about health care because I have a disability in my back, so I go to the doctor a lot. I do have insurance, so I’m lucky, but if I didn’t … I think Claire McCaskill definitely aligns with my views on that front just because I know Josh Hawley has sent some lawsuits against pre-existing conditions, which is exactly what I have.”

Jessica Runyan, 20, MU student, Columbia

“I’ve been doing all this research, and I don’t think I really realized how close the Senate race is. I was kind of shocked to see that it’s a really competitive state right now.”

Callie Klein, 19, MU student, Columbia

“The most important race is the Senate race between Claire McCaskill and Josh Hawley. It’s a very contested one, a very close one, more than any of the other races, and it could potentially lead to the Republicans gaining more seats in the Senate or the Democrats keeping it at bay at like 51-49.”

Jack Kosowski, 20, MU student, Columbia

“The Senate race is critical. I feel like the country is moving in the wrong direction, and the Democrats need to take the Senate.”

Jessica Ruud, 28, respiratory therapist, Columbia

“The Senate race (concerns me). It’s kind of important to have the right people in the right places in the Senate.”

Ron White, 79, farmer and retired Missouri Department of Transportation employee, Ashland

“A lot of people that I was interested in in the midterm, I wanted to vote and make sure that they get through. I voted for Claire McCaskill. I definitely wanted to make sure that my vote counted for her.”

Jennifer Goyne, 47, computer programmer with MU, Ashland

“Keeping Claire McCaskill in office is the main reason (for voting). I just want to keep the Democrats in there. My husband is in the union, and we are mostly democrat when it comes to the union.”

Glenda Munson, 62, service coordinator at downtown appliance in Columbia

“I think it is important for Republicans to hold the Senate. I mean the nonsense we see on TV every day, people screaming at each other. They have public officials encouraging citizens to get their faces and scream at people and yell at them and make them feel unwelcome. It is un-American.”

Jon Bequette, 52, office manager at a managing medical practice, Hallsville

“Trump all the way. Definitely get Claire McCaskill out of there. A vote for Josh Hawley is a vote for Trump, and I especially like his immigration policies I’m totally for those. I like what he’s doing with the health care, bringing the jobs back, all the good stuff.”

Loretta Jenkins, age 31, office worker at Surgery Center of Columbia

“Vote Republican. I want to see Claire (McCaskill) out.”

Tom Tackett, age 59, carpenter in Hallsville