Who Won Last Night’s Vice Presidential Debate? Public Reactions on Vance vs. Walz

Unlike the presidential debate, vice presidential candidates JD Vance and Tim Walz engaged in a relatively restrained conversation about the issues.

The vice-presidential debate last night, Tuesday, Oct. 1, showcased an anomaly amid the rising tensions between political parties in the U.S.

As Republican Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio and Democratic Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota faced off for their first and only debate, they engaged in a rather cordial exchange of views, though there were a few expected moments of frustration over certain topics. In their first real opportunity to introduce themselves to viewers nationwide, Vance appeared more poised—a stark contrast to his running mate, Donald Trump—while Walz started off shakily but found his stride as the discussion shifted to topics like abortion and the Capitol riot on January 6.

Who Won the VP Debate Last Night?

For Vance, who had been struggling for weeks, the debate marked a rare win in the campaign and an opportunity to improve his image just five weeks before the election. However, his biggest problem is that he is not at the top of the ticket.

Vance referenced Trump less than Walz did Kamala Harris. While he did mention Trump’s past presidency, arguing that many of the issues discussed stem from the current administration, Vance seemed to excel when articulating his own positions and background. His points were seemingly more digestible to Americans compared to Trump, who made outrageous comments during the presidential debate—such as his unfounded claim in Springfield, Ohio, that Haitian immigrants were eating people’s pets, a rumor that spread rapidly among his supporters.

Walz, benefiting from Harris’s stronger performance on the national stage in September, adopted a more relaxed approach and focused on the points where their campaign had successfully attracted voters. This was a pivotal move, as Walz, who is less experienced on the debate stage, has largely avoided media interviews and hasn’t faced many questions since becoming the Democratic vice presidential nominee.

Overall, the main takeaway for many viewers was that civility among the parties seemed achievable and that protecting democracy may be a fundamental concern for Americans—especially those who are ready to vote but are still uncertain about where they stand.

Walz emphasized this point several times, mentioning that “as a football coach,” he understands that “sometimes you really want to win, but democracy is bigger than winning an election.” He added, “You shake hands, and then you try to do everything you can to help the other side win. That’s what was at stake here… A president’s words matter. People hear that. So I think this issue of settling our differences at the ballot box, shaking hands when we lose, and being honest about it is crucial. To deny what happened on January 6—the first time in American history that a president or anyone tried to overturn a fair election and the peaceful transfer of power—is unacceptable.”

Towards the end of the debate, after moments of “commonality,” Walz directly asked Vance if Trump lost the 2020 election. Vance avoided giving a straight answer, instead deflecting with a question about censorship related to the COVID-19 pandemic on Facebook.

“Did he lose the 2020 election?” Walz pressed.

“Tim, I’m focused on the future,” Vance replied.

“That is a damning non-answer,” Walz shot back.

After the debate, while at a pizza parlor, Walz faced reporters who questioned him about his earlier claim of befriending school shooters and his assertion of being in Hong Kong in June 1989, despite reports indicating otherwise.

However, he did respond when asked about his strongest moment in the debate. “The public got to see a contrast, and I think the ending sums it up. The democracy issue is important,” he stated.