Vice presidential candidates Gov. Tim Walz and Sen. JD Vance faced off for the first and only debate of the election season, delivering a more civil exchange compared to the previous presidential debates.

Though the tone was cordial, both candidates sharply criticized their opponents’ presidential running mates on key issues such as gun violence, reproductive rights, immigration, and climate change.

Walz seemed nervous at the start but gained momentum as the debate progressed, launching pointed critiques. Vance focused on defending Trump’s policies while taking aim at Vice President Harris and her record.

Walz  found his footing when addressing topics like abortion and the Capitol riot. Vance, known for his polished public speaking, appeared to benefit from the debate’s more moderate tone. He offered a calm, humble presentation of Trump’s conservative populism, positioning himself as reasonable and measured.

“People make a lot of claims about the negative outcomes if Donald Trump becomes president again,” Vance said. “But the reality is that when Trump was president, inflation was low, and take-home pay was higher.”

Although Vance occasionally bristled at perceived unfair fact-checking from the CBS moderators, both candidates remained relatively composed. At one point, the microphones of both were temporarily muted.

The debate featured moments of agreement between the two, with Walz acknowledging the shared ground, saying, “There’s a lot of commonality here.”

In a more personal moment, when Walz shared a story about his 17-year-old witnessing a shooting at a community center, Vance expressed genuine concern, responding, “I’m sorry about that and I hope he’s doing OK. Christ have mercy, it is awful.”

Ultimately, the debate’s tone was moderate, emphasizing policy over personal attacks, with Vance benefiting from the composed exchange.