What to know about the vice presidential debate
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Vice presidential candidates JD Vance and Tim Walz at their parties' respective conventions this summer. Photos: Joe Raedle/Getty Images and David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The first vice presidential debate between Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) and Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) on Tuesday comes just over a month before Election Day and as early voting has already launched in a handful of states.
The big picture: The Walz-Vance showdown could likely be the last major televised debate of this election cycle, and the mics will not be muted if all goes as planned.
- A large segment of voters are planning to cast ballots ahead of Election Day, with early voting already launched in a handful of states, including Minnesota.
- Both candidates agreed to the debate in August.
Catch up quick: In the first 59 days after Vice President Kamala Harris entered the race, Vance has become a familiar face, giving more than seven times more interviews and press conferences than Walz and Harris combined, per Axios' review.
- In that time, Walz has also boosted the Harris campaign with an aura of authenticity as a running mate. He rose to national prominence by casting Vance and other Republicans as "weird" in many television appearances."
- Vance has deemed the label "schoolyard bully stuff" on CNN.
- The Republican senator, who served as a public affairs specialist in the Marines, has taken shots at Walz's military record, accusing the 24-year Army National Guard veteran of misrepresenting a service record Walz says "speaks for itself."
When is the debate?
The 90-minute debate, starting at 9pm ET, will be produced by CBS and carried by other major networks and platforms.
Where is the debate?
It will be held at CBS Broadcast Center in New York City.
Who's moderating the debate?
CBS "Evening News" host Norah O'Donnell and "Face the Nation" host Margaret Brennan will moderate.
How are Vance and Walz preparing?
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has helped the Walz team in an off-duty capacity to stand in for Vance during debate prep.
- It is being led by White House alums Rob Friedlander and Zayn Siddique, also part of Harris' debate room.
- The debate prep team also includes Chris Schmitter, the aide who led Walz's gubernatorial races; longtime Obama-Biden aide Liz Allen; and Harris-Walz communications director Michael Tyler.
House GOP Whip Tom Emmer is playing the part of Walz in GOP prep for Vance, Axios' Juliegrace Brufke previously reported.
- Emmer has been studying up on how Walz debates, his positions and his physical mannerisms, a source familiar told Axios.
What are the debate rules?
Walz will stand behind a podium on the right side of the screen with Vance to the opposite side, per debate rules CBS News announced on Friday. There will not be opening statements, and Walz will be introduced first.
- Each candidate will have two minutes to answer questions, with the other candidate given two minutes to respond.
- They will each have one additional minute for rebuttals. Moderators, the only ones permitted to ask questions, will be able to decide whether to give the candidates another minute, per the rules.
Candidates will have two minutes for closing statements. Vance won a coin toss determining order and opted to go last.
- Although there are no plans to mute mics, CBS News reserved the right to change that plan.
What have the candidates been saying?
Vance said Wednesday during a press call about the showdown that he doesn't think it will take much preparation.
- "What we're going to focus on is that I make as concise and direct appeal to the American people as possible about Donald Trump's successful policies and Kamala Harris' failed policies," Vance said.
Walz, calling Vance a "Yale Law guy" and himself "a public school teacher," said the debate is "a good opportunity to contrast where we're at."
- "You'll hear me talk like I have about things that impact Americans, making sure they have the opportunity to thrive, making sure that we're being factual in how we talk about that," Walz told MSNBC's Rachel Maddow after Harris and Trump's debate Sept. 10.
- "And so I'm looking forward to it. I'll work hard. That's what I do."
- Emily Soong, a spokesperson for the Harris-Walz campaign, said the debate is an opportunity for Walz to present Harris' vision "to the American people who are ready to turn the page on Donald Trump."
Is this the last debate?
Tuesday's faceoff is set to be the last one this cycle.
- Harris has repeatedly challenged Trump to a second debate and accepted CNN's invitation for one on Oct. 23, but Trump has declined.
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