Ahead of the 2024 United States presidential election, vice presidential candidates Tim Walz, the Democratic governor of Minnesota, and JD Vance, the Republican senator from Ohio, sparred on Tuesday night over key issues, primarily focusing their criticism on their respective presidential opponents.
This was their first encounter since the debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. With Election Day only five weeks away, early voting has already begun, adding urgency to the situation.
One of the central topics was foreign policy, where Vance criticized the current administration’s handling of the recent Hamas attacks on Israel, saying, “The Hamas attacks happened under Kamala Harris’s watch.” In contrast, Walz highlighted what he called Trump’s erratic behavior, calling for “steady leadership” in dealing with threats like Iran.
Domestic issues also featured. The candidates addressed the housing crisis and the economy, with Vance extending his condolences to the victims of Hurricane Helene while advocating for a stronger federal response. Immigration, particularly at the U.S. southern border, was a major point of contention. Vance repeatedly pointed to border security failures, while Walz countered by blaming Trump for derailing bipartisan immigration reforms.
On abortion rights, Walz criticized Trump for ignoring the harmful impact of abortion restrictions, sharing the stories of two Georgia women who died due to the state’s strict laws. Vance, who has often been conflicted on abortion issues seemed to now favor what he called “minimum national standard” rather than a total ban.
The debate was largely civil, with both candidates agreeing on the severity of some issues, such as the housing crisis and gun violence, but differing on the policies needed to address them.
Vance dodged a direct answer on Trump’s false claims about the 2020 election, focusing instead on the future. Walz called out Vance, saying, “The winner needs to be the winner. This has got to stop.”
As the debate closed, both candidates shook hands in a moment that underscored the relatively calm tone of the evening, a rare occurrence in modern U.S. politics, and a far cry from what it would have been with Trump on stage.
With Trump foreclosing any further debates with Harris, this VP debate seems to be the last of this year’s U.S. presidential election.
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