Independent United States senator Angus King spoke at a rally with Democratic 2nd Congressional District candidate Emily Cain in front of Fogler Library at the University of Maine on Wednesday afternoon, announcing his endorsement of her.

Cain has served in the Maine Senate since 2012, representing the 30th district. She was previously a member of the Maine House of Representatives from 2004 to 2012, and began serving as Minority Leader in 2010.

“Here’s what we need in Washington [D.C.]: we need people who listen, who will talk, who will stay at the table, who will collaborate, who will reach across the aisle and who will solve problems, and that’s what Emily has a record of doing over the past ten years in the Maine legislature,” King said.

Cain worked with Republican Maine Governor Paul LePage on a domestic violence bill that increased access to batterer intervention programs in the state, which was signed into law by LePage in April 2013.

“That’s the kind of bi-partisan, non-partisan problem-solving that we need in Washington,” King said of the collaboration.

Cain, an alumna of UMaine who works on campus as Coordinator of Advancement in the Honors College, said she is a “very proud Black Bear” and that it was a treat to be on campus. She appealed to the primarily student crowd by saying that she aims to alleviate student debt. The average debt of UMaine graduates in 2012 was over $32,000, according to The Project on Student Debt.

“Drowning in student debt is no way to start a career, is no way to get into or stay in the middle class,” Cain said. “The way we fund higher education now, the way we help students afford college, it’s not sustainable.”

Cain spoke also about her commitment to bipartisanship, saying that Congress is “divided.”

“Mainers know the importance of electing leaders like Senator King who work together,” Cain said. “Like him, I know the problems facing our country are too big for a one-party platform to solve.”

The Maine General Election will take place on Nov. 4.