University of Houston will host GOP presidential debate before Super Tuesday

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The University of Houston is in the national spotlight once again. It just announced this week that the campus will host a Republican presidential primary debate on Thursday, February 25. Students and city leaders are excited about the event.

"It's going to help us be really known," said one student.

From the freshmen to the graduates, UH Cougars are proud.

"I'm just proud that it's here over other places," said another student.

"We're already on the national map with our football team doing well," said a graduate student.

The campus will host the debate ahead of "Super Tuesday." In two weeks, the candidates will set foot inside Moore's School of Music about 780 tickets will be distributed by the Republican National Committee.

"We are not only the second most diverse university in the nation, we have also achieved milestones from an academic perspective," said Richie Hunter, Vice Chancellor and VP of UH system & U.HU

University leaders said security will be tight and students should expect to see a lot of authorities on campus.

"(Our campus security is) working with homeland security, the city of Houston, secret service," said Hunter.

The Harris County Democratic Party said it doesn't have any events going on as of yet.

"I think Hillary and Bernie lead a much better case of leading our country forward," said Lane Lewis, Co. Chair for the Harris County Democratic Party.

Whether Houstonians lean left or right, UH leaders said the main purpose of this event is to highlight Houston.

"We can't wait to be a part of this moment in history," said Hunter.

If you're interested in tickets, click or tap here.