Vice-Presidential Debate Date Agreed

Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) and Democratic Minnesota Governor Tim Walz both confirmed on Thursday their participation in a vice-presidential debate scheduled to be hosted by CBS News on Oct. 1.

Walz was the first to agree to the debate, committing late Wednesday after CBS News presented four possible dates for the event in New York City. The network offered Sept. 17, Sept. 24, Oct. 1, and Oct. 8 as options. Just seven minutes after CBS News made the announcement on X, Walz quickly selected Oct. 1.

“See you on Oct. 1, JD,” Walz wrote.

See you on October 1, JD. https://t.co/ssi0FdseN9

— Tim Walz (@Tim_Walz) August 14, 2024

On Thursday morning, Vance confirmed his participation in the Oct. 1 debate with Walz and extended a challenge to the Minnesota governor for an additional debate with CNN on Sept. 18.

“The American people deserve as many debates as possible, which is why President Trump has challenged Kamala to three of them already. Not only do I accept the CBS debate on Oct. 1, I accept the CNN debate on Sept. 18 as well. I look forward to seeing you at both!” Vance wrote on X.

The American people deserve as many debates as possible, which is why President Trump has challenged Kamala to three of them already. 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! https://t.co/63FyI99dKU

— JD Vance (@JDVance) August 15, 2024

Vance initially approached Walz’s proposed debate date with caution. Speaking to Fox News’ Laura Ingraham just hours after Walz committed to the Oct. 1 debate, Vance stated that he would agree to participate as long as the debate rules were satisfactory.

“I strongly suspect we’re gonna be there on October the first, but we’re not gonna do one of those fake debates, Laura, where they don’t actually have an audience there. Where they don’t actually set the parameters in the right way,” Vance told Ingraham. “We’re not gonna walk into a fake news media garbage debate. We’re gonna do a real debate, and if CBS agrees to it, then certainly, we’ll do it.”

Former President Donald Trump issued a challenge to Harris for three presidential debates: on Sept. 4 with Fox, Sept. 10 with ABC, and Sept. 25 with NBC. As of Aug. 8, Harris’ campaign agreed to the Sept. 10 debate, according to ABC Washington Bureau Chief Rick Klein.

In a statement on Thursday, Harris campaign communications director Michael Tyler mentioned that a second presidential debate is scheduled for October, according to Deadline.

“The debate about debates is over. Donald Trump’s campaign accepted our proposal for three debates — two presidential and a vice presidential debate,” he reportedly said.