ROMULUS (WWJ) — A day after announcing Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate, Vice President Kamala Harris's presidential campaign made a stop in Metro Detroit Wednesday night, looking to re-energize Democratic voters in the key battleground state ahead of the November election.
The rally in a hangar at Detroit Metro Airport in Romulus came hours after Republican Vice Presidential candidate J.D. Vance held a press conference at the Shelby Township Police Department in Macomb County.
It marks Harris' first visit to Michigan since becoming the Democratic nominee after 81-year-old President Joe Biden withdrew from the race.
Walz and Harris both highlighted reproductive rights and in their speeches, both among the top issues on the minds of voters on both sides of the political spectrum.
"You know that Kamala Harris believes that you should be making your own choices in your life. She believes that every person should have an opportunity to enter the middle class," Walz said.
The Minnesota governor said while all Americans surely have our differences, Midwesterners respect our neighbors' personal choices."
"We may not agree with them or make them for ourselves, but I've been saying this — you all know it — our golden rule is, mind your own damn business. Don't like a book, don't read it," Walz said.
Harris said among her top priorities once she gets into office would be bringing down prices, fighting corporate price gouging and corporate landlords, and reducing prescription drug costs.
"We fight for a future where every worker has the freedom to join a union, where every senior can retire with dignity, a future with affordable housing, affordable healthcare and paid leave," Harris said. "A future where we build a broad-based economy where every American has an opportunity to own a home, to start a business and to build wealth."
Other speakers leading up to Harris and Walz included Democratic Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin — now a candidate for U.S. Senate — UAW President Shawn Fain, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and others.
Multiple times throughout Wednesday's rally, speakers paused to call for attendees to get medical attention or water, as the reported crowd of 15,000, which was partially outside the hangar, dealt with warm temperatures.
Harris's speech was also briefly interrupted by chanting pro-Palestinian protesters.
"It's all good. I'm here because we believe in democracy. Everyone's voice matters, but I am speaking now. I am speaking now," Harris said
As she began speaking again, chanting broke out again, to which she said, "you know what, if you want Donald Trump to win, then say that. Otherwise, I'm speaking," which garnered a loud applause from the crowd.
Harris and Walz plan to have another event in Michigan on Thursday, though details have not been released.
