Walz and Vance squared off for the first and only time this election cycle.
Vice presidential candidates Gov. Tim Walz and Sen. JD Vance squared off for the first and only time this election season.
Unlike the last two presidential debates, the candidates appeared to be more cordial. However, both running mates criticized the presidential candidates on a host of issues including gun violence, reproductive rights, immigration and climate change.
Walz appeared to have nerves in the opening of debate, but went on the attack as the night went on. Vance took aim at Harris and her policies and pushed Trump's policies.
Vance ended the night with a closing statement focusing on Harris' policies.
The senator blamed Harris' policies for higher energy costs, housing costs and other goods.
"We need change. We need a new direction. We need a president who has already done this once before and did it well," he said.
Walz said he was "proud" of the coalition Harris has been able to build since becoming the nominee, from Sen. Bernie Sanders to Taylor Swift.
"And they believe in a truly optimistic future for this country," he said.
Walz said Harris is giving people a "new way forward" while Vance would only stand for Trump's agenda.
Vance said it's "really rich" for Democratic leaders to say Trump is a unique threat to democracy, saying Democrats protested the results of 2016 election.
"Hillary Clinton, in 2016, said that Donald Trump had the election stolen by Vladimir Putin because the Russians bought, like, $500,000 worth of Facebook ads," he said. "If we want to say that we need to respect the results of the election, I'm on board. But if we want to say, as Tim Walz is saying, that this is just a problem that Republicans have had, I don't buy that."
In response, Walz said, "Jan. 6 was not Facebook ads."
As Walz continued to criticize Vance for not condemning the Jan. 6 attacks and refusing to say if he would accept the 2024 election, he brought up Vance's predecessor, former Vice President Mike Pence.
"When Mike Pence made that decision to certify that election, that's why Mike Pence isn't on this stage," Walz said.
"What I'm concerned about is where is the firewall with Donald Trump? Where is the firewall if he knows, he could do anything, including taking an election, and his vice president's not going to stand to it. That's what we're asking you, America."
