Minnesota Gov. and Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz had a message for voters in Gastonia Sunday evening: “Win this thing for America, North Carolina.”

Walz flew in to Charlotte Douglas International Airport around 6:30 p.m. before going to Gastonia with a group of reporters traveling by motorcade. He spoke briefly at RayNathan’s, a barbecue restaurant, before mingling with supporters and customers.

He mentioned some familiar campaign priorities, like tax cuts for the middle class and protecting abortion rights. The main message, though: “We win North Carolina, this thing’s over.”

Several local officials and candidates welcomed him at the airport, including Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles, Commissioner of Labor candidate and former City Council member Braxton Winston and state Sen. Mujtaba Mohammed.

North Carolina a key state

In the days leading up to Nov. 5, North Carolina has been a focus for the campaigns of both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.

Trump spent much of Saturday, the last day to vote early, in Gastonia and Greensboro before going east to Kinston on Sunday. “Nov. 5 will be the most important day in the history of our country,” he told supporters.

The former president continues to spread misinformation about the government response to Hurricane Helene, which devastated much of Western North Carolina as a tropical storm and killed dozens.

Though the claim has been debunked, he said Saturday that FEMA funds were being diverted to undocumented immigrants. As NPR has reported, money spent in Helene’s aftermath came from Congress’ Disaster Relief Fund, not the agency’s operating budget.

Trump also shared a claim, debunked by PBS, that immigrants are “taking jobs from African Americans and Hispanic Americans, and especially the African Americans.” And he promoted a plan to stop taxing tips, overtime and Social Security benefits.

Trump’s running mate J.D. Vance and son Donald Trump Jr. also went to Sanford this weekend.

Meanwhile, Harris held a rally in Charlotte Saturday with several celebrities and Democratic politicians from the state and city.

She said she wants to cut taxes for the middle class, pass a ban on corporate price gouging on groceries, work to make sure Americans can afford buying homes, help small businesses and fight for reproductive rights.

The election is a chance to “turn the page” on Trump, she said.

More than 3.8 million people have already voted across the state. It’s a close race. Four recent polls show no clear winner in North Carolina.

The last time North Carolina went for a Democrat to be president was in 2008, when former President Barack Obama beat Sen. John McCain.

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