Ohio Republican Senator JD Vance and Minnesota Democratic Governor Tim Walz took the stage in Manhattan for the only vice presidential debate of this election on the first of October. 

The two candidates met for the first time in person to cover many important issues in a cordial debate in hopes to sway votes towards their respective parties.

People all over the country watched as CBS news’ Norah O’Donnell and Margaret Brennan moderated the debate in which the two men went back and forth for approximately 90 minutes.

Discussion began with the Middle East. Both candidates were asked if they would support or oppose a preemptive strike by Israel on Iran. Walz took the question as an opportunity to share that he believes all countries need steady leadership. He expressed that Vice President Kamala Harris, his running mate, can bring America a steady leadership while Former President Donald Trump cannot. Vance responded to the accusations, arguing that Trump delivered stability in the world through his establishment of effective deterrence and through realizing that the United States needed peace through strength in order to be feared. 

The discussion then turned to Hurricane Helene and the issue of climate change. Both candidates were asked how their administrations would help stop impacts of climate change. Vance responded that he and Trump support "clean air and clean water," and argued that democratic policies result in more energy production in China, but to achieve a cleaner environment the best thing to do is really invest in American workers. Walz responded with attacks at Trump’s past, referencing when Trump called climate change a hoax.

Next, the pair were questioned about the border crisis. The conversation kicked off with Vance being asked if Trump’s mass deportation plan would involve family separation, which he responded to by saying that before deportation can be brought up we must “stop the bleeding.” He claimed that Harris has “opened the floodgates” by undoing Trump’s border policies and is allowing large amounts of immigrants and fentanyl into the country. He argued that the real cause of family separation is Harris’s open southern border that allows Mexican drug cartels to operate freely in the U.S. and harm children by using them as “drug mules.” Walz’s response argued that everyone wants to solve the immigration crisis expect Trump himself because it would give him nothing to talk about. He then mentioned that the bipartisan bill would solve the immigration issue and that Harris is willing to sign it. The two briefly got their mics muted due to crosstalk while the moderators were attempting to keep the debate moving forward.

The debate moved on to economic plans. Walz explained that his campaign believes in the middle class and giving them affordable homes, also painting Trump as out-of-touch with the middle class since he gave the higher class a tax cut in the past. Vance responded with stabs at Harris, saying that she has been in office for three years and rather than lowering the cost of homes she has opened up the southern border making middle class life unaffordable. Vance defended Trump’s plan, stating that Trump has a record and that he will increase take home pay.

The two then touched on the subject of reproductive rights. Walz stated his beliefs that women should be in charge of their own healthcar and that he is not pro-abortion, but pro-women and pro-freedom for women to make their own choices. Vance stated that believes that his party needs to gain back the trust of the American people; he wants his party to be pro-family and give women more options. Ultimately he said that everybody’s situations are so diverse that deciding abortion rights should be up to the states. 

Both candidates agree that America needs to do better with gun violence issues. Vance made the point that there is no way to keep guns away from bad guys, so schools need to increase security. Walz spoke about his son, who witnessed a shooting, and expresses that he recognizes second amendment rights and desires to protect those rights, but also knows that the main priority is his kids and that is how parents feel nationwide. 

The conversation then shifted to various economic topics, such as inflation and the high cost of healthcare. On the issue of inflation, Walz once again emphasized how he cares for middle class citizens and touches on how important it is to be able to afford a home, voicing that he wants the government to help people and saying that the blame does not solely lay on immigration. Vance agreed that the blame does not lay on immigration, but then turned to pin the blame on Harris for letting in "illegal aliens" and for not putting her plan into action, as she sits in office currently. When they begin to talk about healthcare prices, Vance brought up Trump’s success record with lowering prices in the past. Walz promised that Harris will protect and enhance the Affordable Care Act.

Brennan then raised the issue of childcare crisis in America. Walz established that most families desire a paid medical leave program, and that businesses should offer one to them because “the economy works best when it works for all of us.” Vance said that he believes a paid family leave model should make choice possible for families since all families will have different preferences on how much time off they may need. 

Finally, O’Donnell focuses the debate on the events of January 6th, 2021 and the issue of democracy. Vance voiced that there were issues in 2020 and that those problems should have been peacefully debated. He then took swipes at Harris, saying she is censoring the American people on these issues and that the threat of censorship is killing democracy. Walz refuted Vance’s stance on January 6th, arguing that people should accept it and shake hands when they lose, and not deny that what happened on January 6th was horrible. When Vance is asked whether he believes Trump lost the 2020 election, he deflected, leading Walz to conclude it a “damning non-answer.”

In their closing statements, Walz highlighted Harris’s care for the American people and desire to make everyone’s voices heard. He stated that Harris plans to bring solutions to the middle class and keep the American people at the heart of everything she is doing, promising new opportunities for everyone to thrive. 

Vance closed by saying that he believes all families should be able to keep their homes warm, feed their children, afford a house in a safe neighborhood, and live in an area that is not “flooded with fentanyl.” He then stated that under Harris’s policies, these ideas are impossible and that if Harris wanted to make change she would have already done so as she currently is in office. He concludes by saying that the United States needs a new direction and a leader that is able to get things done.

Polls on which candidate won the debate were split, with most leaning towards a Vance victory.half and the debate was named a tie.