GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Vice presidential hopeful Governor Tim Walz made his first solo stop in Michigan Thursday since earning the nomination.
Walz is spending two days in Michigan, focusing on Kent and Ingham counties with his visits to Grand Rapids and East Lansing.
Hundreds of people lined up hours ahead of the event at the Grand Rapids Public Museum.
Adam Line was first in line and told 13 ON YOUR SIDE, "I went to the Donald Trump rally after his assassination attempt and I just wanted to give a fair balance of, you know, who was saying what."
Supporters of the Harris-Walz ticket like Tonya Coleman said, "they got my vote 100%, they for me, they are working for me."
The campaign stop is part of the "New Way Forward" battleground tour, which will also include a stop by Walz in Wisconsin on Friday. Vice President Harris is also set to make stops in the battleground states of North Carolina and Pennsylvania this week.
A lineup of speakers hyped up the crowd ahead of his arrival including Grand Rapids Mayor Roslyn Bliss and Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
Gov. Whitmer said to the crowd, "Tim is a fundamentally good person, he shows up, he works hard, he can laugh at himself, he is just like us."
Taking the state, Walz honed in on post-debate energy in the crowd.
He said, "that criminal being on the stage got put in his place."
Walz added, "Kamala Harris spent her time talking about you and the way forward."
The Minnesota governor also spent a good portion of his time taking jabs at the opposing ticket.
"This guy has spent his entire life focused on himself, obsessed with the past and the thing that is unforgivable, rooting against America and America's people."
He also continued to lay out the plans for a Harris-Walz future.
"You take care of workers, you make sure folks can unionize, you make sure folks have money. You know what happens when you do that? The economy grows and businesses soar."
The vice presidential candidate touched on prescription drug and grocery prices, small businesses and gun control. Walz wrapped up by highlighting our key battleground status.
"The presidency of the United States and the future of our democracy could very well go right through this room in Grand Rapids. That's how important Michigan is."
Former President Donald Trump and his vice presidential pick Ohio Senator JD Vance have also prioritized campaigning in Michigan with stops by both candidates in the state over the last month.
Team Trump Michigan Communications Director Victoria LaCivita released the following statement ahead of Gov. Walz's arrival Thursday:
"Tim Walz is a midwesterner who hates the midwest. His values are just as dangerously liberal as Kamala Harris', but he's not trying to hide them. Michiganders won't be fooled by his fake camo hat, donut eating dog and pony show. Tim Walz ignored the concerns of auto dealers, allowed Minneapolis to burn at the hands of violent rioters, and put tampons in boys' bathrooms. He's wrong for Michigan and wrong for America, which is why Michiganders are going to flip the Great Lakes State red in November."
Trump is set to hold a town hall in Flint next week.
You can watch Walz's full speech here: