Ohio’s freshman U.S. Senator JD Vance is set to make his debate debut Tuesday evening alongside Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. Formerly a venture capitalist and author, Vance has encountered several challenges since being chosen by former President Donald Trump as his running mate on the Republican ticket.
In under two years as a senator, Vance has become a well-known political figure in Ohio. However, only one Democrat, former Youngstown-area Congressman Tim Ryan, has experience debating Vance on stage. Vance defeated Ryan after winning a seven-way Republican primary in 2022, largely due to Trump’s endorsement.
Ryan anticipates that Vance will be aggressive in framing the Harris-Walz ticket as extremely out of touch, placing blame on them for various issues. According to Ryan, Vance’s primary audience during these debates is Donald Trump.
Vance’s transition from critic to supporter of Trump has been well-documented, and his earlier controversial statements are likely to be highlighted in the debate. This includes false and racist rumors about legal Haitian immigrants in Springfield and negative remarks about childless women.
The debate will provide both Vance and Walz with an opportunity to present their policy positions to a broader American audience, as many are less familiar with them compared to their presidential running mates. Vance, in particular, will need to address his lower favorability ratings.
Ryan noted that Vance might display discomfort and a tendency to become defensive if provoked. He advised that Walz should be ready to fact-check Vance in real-time, as CBS News, the host of the debate, stated that candidates must call out inaccuracies themselves.
Republicans in Ohio are enthusiastic about Vance being Trump’s running mate. Republican strategist Mark Weaver noted Vance’s appeal to moderates who are still undecided. Weaver highlighted Vance’s policy expertise and his ability to handle press questions adeptly. Weaver also remarked that Vance’s future is promising, whether he becomes the Vice President or continues as a senator with a heightened profile.
However, frustrations with Trump among some Republicans have led to resignations, with some crossing party lines. Chris Gibbs, the Democratic Party Chair in Shelby County, expressed low expectations for Vance’s debate performance, predicting that he would focus more on affirming Trump’s influence rather than engaging in meaningful policy discussions.
Gibbs expressed a desire for the debate to address topics like immigration, trade, tariffs, biofuels, and the Farm Bill, rather than personal attacks, which he expects from Vance towards Walz.
