Before presidential candidate Beto O' Rourke took the stage Wednesday night, Jake Drobnick, an Iowa State University freshman, summed up the hour-and-a-half long wait by joking, “Beto late than never.”

When O'Rourke, who had a flight delayed at O'Hare Airport in Chicago, made an appearance donning a red Iowa State Cyclones hat, he told a crowd of 185 students and Ames residents packed in the ISU Memorial Union Maintenance Shop, that he's “leading a critical charge to defeat (President) Donald Trump.”

“We're all going to be on the same team, and whoever the nominees is, whether it's a he or she, we are going to defeat Donald Trump,” said O'Rourke. “Don't let them divide us. We are all Americans.”

O'Rourke is the latest Democratic presidential hopeful to visit Ames and Story County in recent weeks, and is among the 16 or so vying for their party's presidential nomination in 2020.

O'Rourke said that his visit to Iowa, his second, is important because it sets the tone for the United States when comes to the election.

The Texas native said that the country is on the verge of a “progressive response” that will be accomplished with economic and political democracy.

“It will require a vigorous Democracy that involves a new voting rights act signed into law,” said O'Rouke. “But it will done by a political and economic Democracy.”

O'Rourke said that one way to accomplish those goals is by creating a fair voting environment, by establishing a new voter's rights law, enacting same-day and automatic voter registration, ending countrywide gerrymandering and removing financial power out of the politics.

In terms of an economic Democracy, O'Rourke said that a nationwide minimum wage of $15 per hour and debt-free education are among his priorities.

O'Rourke, who announced his bid for presidency on March 14, said his first acts as president, if elected, would be pushing for universal healthcare and protecting reproductive rights for women.

“We have maternity crisis that is three times as deadly for women of color, we have a crisis in infant mortality. If your conscience does not call you to do the right thing, than maybe your self-interests will,” said O'Rourke. “When millions of Americans cannot see a doctor or cannot take their children to a therapist, they are not well enough to go to school, or work a job or star a business, we all lose out on the potential that is not realized.”

An ISU student challenged O'Rourke on his stance on reproductive rights by raising concerns about abortion as a method for “killing hundreds of babies,” O'Rourke answered with “frank candor.”

“While I respect your question, I must answer with frank candor” said O'Rourke. “Since 1973, Roe v. Wade has been the law of the land and more than anyone else, I trust a woman with the help of her doctor to make her own decisions about her own body.”

One of the major talking points of the question and answer portion of the event was climate change, and O'Rourke furthered his environmental stance stating that he wants to meet a goal of getting to “net-zero” carbon emissions by the year 2030.

“(Climate change) is the greatest existential threat to our nation,” said O'Rouke. “Nothing else will matter if we do not take steps to address the climate going forward.”

If elected, O'Rourke said he would make environmental concerns and equality concerns his top priorities and said, “If elected President, I will sign into law 'The Equality Act' to protect the civil rights of the gay, trans and minority communities.”

O'Rourke gained some steam following a competitive Senate race in Texas against incumbent Ted Cruz, but also seemed to be popular with viral videos of him doing town hall speeches while standing on tables.

“I heard a lot about Beto from viral videos on Twitter and the internet,” said Joaquin Ramirez, from Marshalltown. “But I also wanted to know where he stands out in the pack of candidates.”

In a crowded field of Democratic candidates, O'Rourke's charisma seems to be setting him apart for some prospective voters.

Rick Osborne said, “I've heard a lot of buzz about Beto (O'Rourke), his charisma, and how he can move a room, and at some point you have to talk about policies, but it was interesting to see that charisma translate from the town halls you see on TV.”

Ultimately, policies will steer both Ames resident and Iowa State students come the first-in-the nation Feb. 3 Iowa Caucuses.

Iowa State student, Ben Whittington said, “A candidate that addresses student loan and debt assistance will attract my attention, since those issues will be at the forefront of my voting priorities.”

But for one Iowa State freshman, despite the late-start on Wednesday evening, O'Rouke got an 'A+'.

“I found him engaging, inspiring, and he's get an A+ from me because of how he mentioned reproductive rights and my right to choose what to do with my body,” said Taylor Miller.

Ames Tribune reporter Lyn Keren contributed to this story