VP Debate in NYC: Get Ready for the Walz-Vance Showdown Tonight!

Get Ready for the VP Debate: Walz vs. Vance in NYC

Tonight, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Ohio Sen. JD Vance are set to face off in their first and only scheduled vice presidential debate. The 90-minute debate will begin at 9 p.m. EDT and be moderated by CBS News anchors Norah O'Donnell and Margaret Brennan.

This debate comes just five weeks before the election and is a crucial opportunity for both candidates to make their case for their respective tickets. Walz, running mate to Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, and Vance, the Republican ticketmate of former President Donald Trump, will be vying for the support of voters in key battleground states.

How to Watch

The debate will be aired live on CBS News' broadcast network and can be streamed on all platforms where CBS News 24/7 and Paramount+ are available. Other networks are likely to simulcast the event.

Debate Location

The debate is taking place in New York City, a state considered reliably Democratic in general elections. However, Trump, a native New Yorker, has maintained that he has a chance to sway the state in his favor despite losing it in his previous two presidential bids. He has held events in the South Bronx and on Long Island in an effort to garner support.

Meanwhile, Harris has decided to skip the Al Smith dinner, a Catholic Charities benefit event typically held in NYC, in favor of campaigning in a key battleground state. Trump will be the sole featured speaker at the event.

Debate Preparation

Walz and Vance have been preparing for this high-stakes encounter with stand-ins playing the role of their opponents. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has been standing in for Vance during Walz's debate preparation, while GOP Rep. Tom Emmer has been playing the role of Walz for Vance.

Future Debates

Currently, there are no further presidential or vice presidential debates scheduled, but that could change. After Harris and Trump's previous debate on Sept. 10, Harris expressed openness to another debate. However, Trump has declined a proposed debate date on Oct. 23, stating it would be “too late” with early voting already underway in many states.