Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Ohio Senator JD Vance participated in the vice presidential debate at the CBS Broadcast Center on Tuesday in New York City. Despite their political differences, the candidates showcased a surprising amount of agreement on various issues.
Throughout the debate, both Walz and Vance repeatedly acknowledged points of consensus, discussing topics such as expediting the asylum claim process, revitalizing job markets in the U.S., addressing gun violence, and rejecting the notion that immigrants are responsible for rising housing costs.
The term “agree” was utilized more than two dozen times over the 90-minute debate. Examples include Vance agreeing with Walz on the challenges posed by large inflows of migrants, and their shared sentiment on the tragic case of Amber Thurman in Georgia, who died after being unable to access legal abortion care. On gun violence, Vance expressed concurrence with Walz about the necessity for improvement, while questioning specifics on how to achieve it.
Walz complimented Vance’s stance on school shootings, recognizing that both abhorred the loss of children’s lives, although Walz emphasized the need for actionable solutions. Vance responded by appreciating Walz’s comments about Finland, highlighting the unique aspects of the U.S. gun violence problem compared to other countries.
Toward the debate’s conclusion, Walz noted the common ground found during the discussion and acknowledged the likelihood of misspeaking, to which Vance humorously agreed.
There were also poignant moments of shared humanity. When Walz recounted his teenage son witnessing a shooting, Vance expressed genuine sympathy and concern for his son’s well-being. The debate ended on a cordial note, with both candidates shaking hands twice and interacting warmly with each other off-camera, accompanied by their spouses.
This marked a stark contrast to the heated tones observed in previous presidential debates, signaling a moment of bipartisanship and mutual respect.
