Vice presidential candidates Ohio Senator JD Vance (R) and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) will engage in a debate on Tuesday, marking the only occasion they meet on stage to present their policy positions to the American public ahead of the 2024 election cycle.
This debate provides a crucial platform for both candidates to introduce their respective policies to voters, potentially swaying the working-class electorate in key “Blue Wall” states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin in the upcoming fall elections.
Hosted by CBS News, the debate will take place in New York City at 9 p.m. ET. Moderation duties will be handled by CBS Evening News anchor and managing editor Norah O’Donnell, and Face the Nation moderator and chief foreign affairs correspondent Margaret Brennan. The event will be broadcast live on CBS, CBS News Streaming Network, and Paramount+, and will also be available for streaming on CBSNews.com without requiring a cable login.
NPR will provide a live blog with updates, analysis, and fact-checking. The debate can also be listened to on various public radio stations and on the NPR app.
Former President Donald Trump announced Vance as his running mate at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee this summer. Vance, a first-term senator previously critical of Trump, gained political relevance with his book “Hillbilly Elegy,” which critiques the Democratic Party’s handling of rural economy issues. In the Senate, he has sometimes opposed Republican leadership but aligns closely with Trump on matters including abortion, immigration, and election integrity.
Vice President Kamala Harris selected Walz as her running mate shortly after replacing President Biden at the top of the ticket. Walz, a former football coach and teacher known as “Coach Walz,” has secured several progressive wins as governor, such as clean energy mandates, universal free school meals, family and medical leave benefits, and abortion protections.
Key points to watch during the debate include Vance addressing past controversies related to social media comments and false claims about Haitian immigrants in Ohio. Walz is likely to face scrutiny on his response to the 2020 riots in Minneapolis and fraud during the COVID-19 relief program. Both candidates’ military records are also expected to be discussed.
Walz has received debate preparation assistance from U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who previously helped Harris in 2020. It remains unclear who is assisting Vance with his debate preparation.
The 90-minute debate will follow agreed-upon rules, including no audience attendance and no prewritten notes or props for candidates. Each candidate will have two minutes to respond to questions, with opportunities for rebuttals as moderated by CBS News.
This debate is likely the final one before Election Day on November 5. While some states have already started distributing mail ballots, Harris’ challenge to Trump for an additional debate on October 23 was declined by Trump, citing the timing as “too late.”
