ROMULUS, Mich. (WXYZ) — Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris is in Michigan this week for a campaign stop.
She’s visiting with her new running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. Harris and Walz, along with other Democratic leaders in the state, spoke at Detroit metro airport Wednesday evening. Harris and Walz will also be in Michigan on Thursday.
Watch Harris' full speech in the video below:
Harris announced Walz as her running mate Tuesday night at a Philadelphia rally.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Lt. Garlin Gilchrist, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, Sen. Debbie Stabenow and Rep. Elissa Slotkin spoke ahead of Harris at the rally.
"It is so good to be back in Michigan. And listen, I am clear the path to the White House runs right through this state," Harris said during the rally. "So we who believe in the sacred freedom to vote will finally pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and the Freedom to Vote Act."
Harris and Walz met with members of the United Auto Workers union. UAW President Shawn Fain was among those who spoke during the rally.
“Women’s rights, reproductive rights, voting rights. The attack on women in general is pretty bad,” UAW member Dawnya Ferdinandsen said of some of her concerns.
Ferdinandsen said supporting unions is at the top of her list for a presidential candidate.
“Kamala has walked picket lines with us. When Trump was president, he didn’t walk the picket line, but he sure enough crossed our picket lines,” Ferdinandsen said.
Grosse Pointe resident Leslie Wagner said the gun violence she's seen in Michigan is a real concern.
“More background checks, a longer delay. You shouldn’t be able to just fly off and grab one and do the kind of damage that we see,” Wagner said.
Walz told the crowd, “Our children should be free to go to school without being shot in the classrooms.”
Hundreds of people were in attendance at the Detroit metro airport rally despite the heat and heat-related medical emergencies.
"I'm going to vote. I'm encouraging my niece and nephews to vote," Wagner said.
Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance also visited metro Detroit on Wednesday. Both presidential campaigns are touring battleground states this week ahead of the November election.
Vance spoke to a small group of invited guests and the media at the Shelby Township Police Department, where the police chief also spoke. Vance’s event was closed to the public.
VIDEO: JD Vance blasts Kamala Harris on illegal immigration during Shelby Township campaign stop
The Vance campaign and Police Chief Robert Shelide highlighted alleged crimes of illegal immigrants that detectives in Shelby Township have investigated in recent months.
Michigan’s primary election was on Tuesday. Michigan has a Senate seat and two congressional seats up for grabs.
