Tim Walz and J.D. Vance Agree to First Vice Presidential Debate This Fall

Mar. 15, 2025

Vice presidential candidates Gov. Tim Walz and Sen. J.D. Vance.Photo:Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty; Chip Somodevilla/Getty

Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty; Chip Somodevilla/Getty

CNN’s proposed vice presidential debate on Wednesday, Sept. 18, remains in limbo until both campaigns accept the invitation.

CBS Newsrevealedon Wednesday, Aug. 14, that they had invited the VP candidates to join them for a debate on one of four dates this fall. Within minutes, Walz responded to the invitation, selecting Oct. 1 as his preferred date.

“See you on October 1, JD,” the Democratic VP candidatewrote on X.

On Thursday morning, Vance accepted Walz’s challenge and upped the ante,writing on X: “Not only do I accept the CBS debate on October 1st, I accept the CNN debate on September 18th as well. I look forward to seeing you at both!”

CNN confirms to PEOPLE that the vice presidential candidates were invited to debate on Sept. 18, and that Walz had not immediately accepted the invitation.

“We are always in communication with the campaigns around opportunities for the American public to hear from leading candidates for President and Vice President of the United States, and we look forward to this programming in the fall,” a network spokesperson said.

On the day that Harris announced Walz as her running mate, the governor attacked Vance’s qualifications before a crowd of supporters, saying, “I can’t wait to debate the guy.”

Democratic running mates Tim Walz and Kamala Harris visit a campaign office in Glendale, Ariz., on Aug. 9, 2024.Andrew Harnik/Getty

Andrew Harnik/Getty

Debates have become a contentious topic in the 2024 presidential election, afterDonald Trumpbriefly backed out of ABC News' agreed-upon Sept. 10 presidential debate, citing that he only wanted to do it against PresidentJoe Biden, not Vice PresidentKamala Harris. (He eventually conceded that he would attend the ABC News event.)

Trump is currently pushing for Harris to agree to two additional debates, the first of which would be on Fox News on Sept. 4. The other would be on NBC News on Sept. 25.

Thelast debate Trump didduring this election cycle led to Bidenexiting the presidential race. Harris and Walz will need to use their airtime to prove to voters that they’re in a stronger position to lead the Democratic Party.

source: people.com