The wife of Democratic vice-presidential nominee Tim Walz campaigned in Bangor Friday, telling supporters that they have a lot of work ahead of them in the final stretch of the campaign.

Walz said she and her husband Tim come from small town backgrounds and believe in the value of hard work. She said the campaign slogan of New Way Forward will open doors for all Americans.

“Everyone has the freedom to build life that they choose,” she said during remarks at Democratic campaign headquarters. “Everyone who works hard can get ahead.”

Walz was joined in Bangor by Gov. Janet Mills and U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-1st District).

Walz’s visit to Maine follows a July 24 stop in Portland by Doug Emhoff, husband of Vice President Kamala Harris. The visit came just three days after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race and endorsed Harris as the Democratic nominee for president.

Harris then chose Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate on Aug. 6.

Gwen Walz is Minnesota’s first lady and a former teacher and administrator. She met her husband Tim while they were both teachers in Nebraska before moving to her home state of Minnesota, according to her bio on the office of the governor’s website.

Walz made Bangor her first stop in Maine deep in the heart of the 2nd Congressional District. No Democratic presidential ticket has won the 2nd District since Barack Obama in 2012.

The next two cycles, former President Donald Trump won the 2nd District, giving him one of the state’s four Electoral College votes in 2016 and 2020. Only Maine and Nebraska split Electoral College votes by congressional district.

As she walked into the campaign office, Walz was greeted with a festive atmosphere as Earth, Wind and Fire’s “September” blasted from the speakers. Mills danced her way into the room and then introduced Walz.

“It’s such a privilege to be back in Bangor with all of you campaigning in the 2nd Congressional District of Maine,” Mills said. “We’re not ceding this one electoral vote to anybody.”

Mills said she will be knocking on doors in the district over the next six weeks.

Walz talked about Tuesday’s presidential debate, saying that the candidates represent “a stark contrast.”

She said Harris offers a new generation of leadership.

“If we work really hard over the next 53 days we have a chance to do this,” she said. “We have a chance to do something special.”

Before her stop at the campaign office, Walz read a book called “Bathe the Cat” to a group of children at The Briar Patch bookstore in Bangor. She encouraged the children to read and told them that her husband will protect their freedom to choose their own books.

But she mostly avoided any political talk, asking the children about what grade they are in and pausing for effect and giggles as she read the book. Before she headed out, she signed a cast on one child’s arm and posed for pictures.

On Friday, the Trump campaign released a new video criticizing Harris for what they called her “copy and paste policies,” saying she will continue President Joe Biden’s economic agenda.

“A vote for Kamala is a vote for another four years of historic inflation, sky high prices, and economic failure,” said Karoline Leavitt, the Trump campaign’s national press secretary.

Friday evening, Walz is scheduled to headline a campaign event in Portland, according to the Harris-Walz campaign.