Vance agrees to debate Walz Oct. 1, asks for a 2nd debate

Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance said he has agreed to debate Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz on Oct. 1 at a forum hosted by CBS News. Vance also challenged Walz to participate in a debate hosted by 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," Vance wrote on X on Thursday. "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!"

Walz had previously agreed to the Oct. 1 debate.

"Harris for President has accepted CBS’ invitation to a Vice Presidential Candidate Debate on October 1," the campaign had said in a statement obtained by Scripps News. "Governor Walz looks forward to debating JD Vance — if he shows up."

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Last week, Vance said that he wanted to debate Walz, but wanted to wait until Walz was officially the Democratic vice presidential nominee before accepting a debate.

"CBS Evening News" anchor Norah O'Donnell and CBS News chief foreign affairs correspondent Margaret Brennan will serve as moderators.

The presidential candidates, meanwhile, have so far agreed to one debate that will run on ABC News on Sept. 10. Trump told reporters earlier in August he was also willing to debate Harris in events hosted by Fox News and NBC News.

The 2024 election cycle marks the first time in decades that candidates and networks are organizing general election debates outside the purview of an independent group, such as the Commission on Presidential Debates. The Commission on Presidential Debates had traditionally set the calendar for debates nearly a year in advance.

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