With Election Day just over a month away, the first and possibly only vice-presidential debate between Republican JD Vance and Democrat Tim Walz will take place this week with many Americans still trying to decide who they will vote for on Nov. 5.
A new poll from The New York Times found that about 1 in 6 Americans are undecided or have weak vote preferences, meaning there’s plenty of room for both the Donald Trump and Kamala Harris campaigns to garner more ballots in their favor. Both White House hopefuls – who do not seem to be gearing up for another debate of their own – will rely on their running mates to help swing voters in what could be the final time anyone takes the debate stage before the polls open.
Here’s what to know about Tuesday’s debate between JD Vance and Tim Walz.
When and where is the debate?
The 90-minute debate begins at 8 p.m. CT on Tuesday, Oct. 1, and will be held at the CBS Broadcast Center in New York City.
Who is putting on the debate?
The debate will be hosted by CBS News and moderated by “CBS Evening News” anchor and managing editor Norah O’Donnell alongside “Face the Nation” moderator and chief foreign affairs correspondent Margaret Brennan.
How to watch the debate
The debate will be broadcast on CBS stations and affiliates. It can be streamed on the free CBS News app, on Paramount+, and on all platforms where CBS News 24/7 is available, including CBSNews.com and YouTube.
What are the rules for the debate?
Including the same length, most of the same rules from the first two presidential debates apply to the vice-presidential debate. This includes no live audience, no pre-written notes or props allowed on stage, and no interaction with campaign staff during live segments or commercial breaks.
A coin flip determined that Walz would stand behind the lectern on the left side of the stage, while Vance would go last in his closing statement. Throughout, each candidate will have two minutes to answer a question and two minutes to respond. One minute will be reserved for rebuttals, and at the moderators’ discretion, an extra minute may be added to continue the discussion.
Unlike the presidential debates, a candidate’s microphone will not be muted when an opponent speaks. However, CBS News does reserve the right to turn off the microphones if the conversation begins to move toward unruly.
What topics can be expected?
Abortion rights, reproductive healthcare, and economic outlook continue to be topics that could sway voters. With Brennan being one of the moderators, foreign affairs are sure to come up when it relates to America’s role in supporting Ukraine and Israel amid the countries’ respective wars. Immigration at the southern border will undoubtedly be discussed, as well.
Who are JD Vance and Tim Walz?
Both vice-presidential candidates are rather new to the national scene. While Walz, 60, has served as Minnesota’s Democratic governor since 2019 and previously served in the U.S. House of Representatives, being chosen as Harris’ running mate after President Joe Biden suspended his campaign launched Walz into the national spotlight. Before running for Congress, he worked as a high school social studies teacher and football coach.
Vance, 40, on the other hand, has only been an elected official since January 2023 when the people of Ohio elected him to serve as one of the state’s two U.S. senators. A former Trump critic, Vance became a staunch Trump supporter upon assuming office in Congress. He previously worked as an attorney, venture capitalist, and is the best-selling author of Hillbilly Elegy.
Both candidates are military veterans, with Vance serving in the Marine Corps and Walz serving in the Army National Guard.
