(The Center Square) – Vice President Kamala Harris held a rally in Philadelphia on Tuesday night in her first official appearance with her new running mate, Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

Harris said that she has found in Walz a “fighter” and a “patriot.”

“Pennsylvania, I’m here today because I found such a leader,” she said. “Governor Tim Walz of the great state of Minnesota.”

Harris announced Walz as her pick for vice president on the Democratic ticket just hours before the rally.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro was also considered for the role, but that didn’t stop him from making an appearance on stage to stump for Harris and Walz.

Shapiro denounced former President Donald Trump and his campaign as the crowd of thousands chanted, “we’re not going back.”

“Not only are we not going back, we are not going into the future with him [Trump],” Shapiro said.

With the Harris and Walz ticket, Shapiro said that he is “more optimistic than ever before” about America’s future.

At the start of her speech, Harris announced she is now the official Democratic nominee for president.

“Just last night, delegates to the Democratic National Convention finished voting and so I stand before you now to announce that I am now officially the Democratic nominee for president of the United States,” she said, before going on to introduce Walz.

Throughout the rally, Harris referenced Walz’s time as a teacher and sports coach, often referring to him as “Coach Walz.”

She touted Walz’s experience in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he served Minnesota for 12 years before being elected as governor in 2019.

“Tim Walz and I agree about many things, including that when our middle class is strong, America is strong,” she said.

Abortion and voting rights are the pressing issues for Democrats across the country this election, and Harris and Walz both set the tone for that.

“With Tim Walz by my side . . . we will pass a bill to restore reproductive freedom,” Harris said at the rally.

She also promised to ban semi-automatic rifles and expand voting rights, while both candidates called out Trump and his running mate, Ohio Republican Sen. J. D. Vance.

“Donald Trump sees the world a little differently than us,” Walz said.

If Trump is elected, Walz promised America’s future would be “much, much worse.”

Harris said that her campaign is looking to, through its policies, strengthen and grow the middle class.

“We are running a campaign on behalf of all Americans.”