Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance and Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz speak after a debate at the CBS Broadcast Center on Oct. 1, 2024 in New York City. | Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
After two presidential face-offs full of zingers and viral clapbacks, the two Midwestern running mates' debate was downright cordial — even with plenty of agreement on policy issues.
Tim Walz himself acknowledged it at one point, saying, “I've enjoyed tonight's debate, and I think there was a lot of commonality here.” JD Vance replied, “Me too, man.”
Here are all the things they agreed on:
- Walz emphasized the importance of congressional funding for a comprehensive immigration policy to secure the southern border. “It is a disgrace, Tim, and I actually think I agree with you,” Vance responded. “I think you want to solve this problem, but I don't think that Kamala does.”
- Vance drilled down on growing American manufacturing and energy production instead of relying on trade. “We're in agreement that we bring those home,” Walz said.
- On abortion, Vance said he and Donald Trump are “pro-family” and want to support fertility treatments and affordable child care. “I agree with a lot of what Senator Vance said about what's happening,” Walz said. “His running mate, though, does not and that's the problem.”
- Walz shared the story of Amber Thurman, who died due to a lack of abortion care in Georgia. “First of all, Governor, I agree with you, Amber Thurman should still be alive,” Vance said, “and there are a lot of people who should still be alive, and I certainly wish that she was.”
- Opening a discussion on gun violence, Vance said, “I think that Governor Walz and I actually probably agree that we need to do better on this.”
- Later, Walz shared that his 17-year-old son, Gus Walz, had witnessed a shooting. “I'm sorry about that," Vance responded. “Christ have mercy. It is awful.”
- On the growing housing crisis, Vance said, “[Walz] just said something that I agree with. We don't want to blame immigrants for higher housing prices.” He added that Walz proposed many ideas on housing, and “some of those ideas I actually think are halfway decent, and some of them I disagree with.”
- “I actually agree with Tim Waltz. We should get out of this idea of housing as a commodity,” Vance said later in the discussion on housing prices.
The biggest clash of the night was on Jan. 6 and the peaceful transition of power, when Vance declined to say that Trump lost the 2020 election and Walz called the response a “damning non-answer.”
“I think there's a lot of agreement. But this is one that we are miles apart on,” Walz said.
Ultimately, the debate ended without animosity.
“I think we're going to win, but if Tim Walz is the next vice president, he'll have my prayers, he'll have my best wishes, and he'll have my help whenever he wants it,” Vance said.
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