A smoky haze filled the air inside Churchill’s Restaurant & Bar in downtown Denver’s Brown Palace Hotel, which may have signified the outlook by Republicans gathered about a month before the general election.

This certainly was not the first time Colorado politicos have converged on Churchill’s to fundraise, strategize or otherwise just chat – nor will it likely be the last – but this time it was with an urgent purpose.

The venue hosted the Senate Majority Fund‘s 4th annual reception, titled “Cigars, Drinks & Insight into the 2016 Elections,” Tuesday night, Oct. 4, featuring Andy Card, former White House chief of staff to President George W. Bush from 2001-06. Card also served as U.S. secretary of transportation under President George H. W. Bush from 1992-93.

Card got his start in politics serving in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1975-83. He ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for governor of Massachusetts in 1982.

Card first served in the West Wing under President Ronald Reagan, as special assistant to the president for intergovernmental affairs, then as deputy assistant to the president and director of intergovernmental affairs, where he was liaison to governors, statewide elected officials, state legislators, mayors and other elected officials.

On 9/11, it was Card who approached President George W. Bush as he was visiting Emma E. Booker Elementary School in Sarasota, Florida, and whispered in Bush’s ear the news that a second plane had hit the World Trade Center, confirming that a terrorist attack was underway. Card later confirmed that he whispered “A second plane has hit the second tower. America is under attack.”

In 2014, Card became the president of Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, New Hampshire. He resigned this summer.

In an interview before the event began, Card noted the importance of this time in the general election season.

“This is when the word ‘we’ becomes the most important word,” Card said. “We, the people, will be making our decisions and this is when we, the people, will turn it up.”

National attention and voter perceptions of the two major party presidential candidates will continue to drive voter’s intentions, Card added.

“I’m frustrated with the presidential nominees from both major parties,” he said. “They’re not the best of the best, and that’s what I think this country deserves.”

Card added that’s also partly why voters should pay attention to the “infrastructure” of their ballot, the other offices at the national and state levels they will also decide.

“It’s very important the Colorado Senate remain under Republican control, because you have a Democratic governor and you want to have some control over the variables,” Card said. “So we need to have at least 18 state senators in Colorado. And it’s a great responsibility to make sure our elected leaders are governing and not just dictating.”

The Senate Majority Fund’s purpose is to raise money to help retain a Republican majority in the Colorado Senate – one that currently stands at a narrow 18-17. Those who attended the event at Churchill’s donated at least $500 per person.

Card’s visit to Colorado came the same day state elections officials released updated voter registration numbers that showed slightly more active registered Democrats than Republicans for the first time in 32 years.

As a New Hampshire resident,” Card chuckled, “I come from a state where it’s very much the norm to have more Democrats than Republicans, and it’s expected to have a Democratic majority” he said. “But I think voters are intelligent enough to look beyond party membership and make these critically important choices based on the best person in the race.”

The critical and sharp – even insulting – political atmosphere in the U.S., especially at the national levels, is disappointing to see, Card added.

“Our founding fathers realized it was critically important to have a process that encouraged governing for the good of everyone,” he said. “Our leaders seem to have gotten away from governing and have moved leadership into a dictatorship. We need to return to the practices of compromise, listening and learning rather than dictating.”

Others on hand for the Senate Majority Fund event included former governor Bill Owens, State Senate Majority Leader Mark Scheffel, many Republican state senators, GOP leaders and guests.