The last debates of the electoral cycle took place among the vice-presidential candidates in the U.S. These debates were sharply different from the last two debates among the presidential candidates. Instead of personal attacks, Republican candidate J.D. Vance and Democrat Tim Walz spoke in a restrained and civil tone, focusing on issues relevant to voters.

The results likely ended in favor of Vance. During the debates, the Washington Post conducted a poll of voters in swing states, where a majority stated that J.D. Vance won the debates. Vance was chosen to provide an ideological foundation for Trump’s conservatism, but on Tuesday evening, he also managed to present his moderate and humble side.

Throughout the debates, both candidates agreed on several issues and noted this directly. "We have a lot in common on many issues," Walz said. When he mentioned that his 17-year-old son witnessed a mass shooting at a community center, Vance’s response was filled with genuine concern: "I'm sorry, I didn’t know. I hope everything is okay now," he said. "God help us, that's really awful."

Walz noticeably felt uncomfortable and anxious on stage, while Vance appeared more confident. The debates primarily focused on domestic issues, though the opening topic was the conflict between Israel and Iran. The moderators did not ask candidates questions about support for Ukraine.

Tensions escalated toward the end of the debates when the discussion turned to Trump’s statements about the 2020 election being rigged. "Did Trump lose the 2020 election?" Walz asked Vance. "Tim, I’m focused on the future," Vance replied. "That is a Damning non-answer" Walz pointed out. The Ohio senator failed to respond to the issue of election rigging but reminded Walz that "Trump's actions were not unusual. Hillary Clinton said in 2016 that the election was stolen by Vladimir Putin because the Russians paid about $500,000 for Facebook ads. 'January 6 wasn’t about Facebook ads,' Walz replied.

During the debates on immigration and border security, Walz referenced Vance's false statements about Haitian migrants supposedly eating the pets of residents in Springfield, Ohio. "The citizens I care about most in Springfield are American citizens," Vance responded.

Vance consistently emphasized that, despite Kamala Harris’s promises, some of which he agrees with, Democrats have controlled the White House for the last three and a half years. "If Kamala Harris has such great plans to solve middle-class problems, now is the time to implement those plans," Vance stated.

Walz spoke about Trump blocking bipartisan immigration legislation, saying, "I believe Senator Vance wants to solve this problem, but when he stands next to Trump and refuses to cooperate, this issue simply turns into talk. And when it stays at the level of conversation, we just talk and try to portray others as demons."

When the debates shifted to the topic of abortion rights—an area where polls indicate Democrats appear stronger—Vance went on the defensive, admitting that Republicans need to make more effort to earn the trust of American voters. "I want to make it easier for mothers to have children. There’s so much we can do in public policy to give women more choices," he said.

Walz responded that the Democratic view on abortion is straightforward: "We are for pro-women. We are for freedom, for people to make their own choices. A fundamental right like bodily autonomy cannot depend on geography."

While Walz was more definitive on abortion, he refrained from extremes when discussing gun control. Vance stated that it’s important to enhance safety in schools. Walz, instead of supporting gun bans, shifted focus to background checks and did not align with Democratic calls for gun bans and other restrictions.

As a congressman, Walz regularly voted in favor of gun rights and opposed many gun control initiatives, earning praise from the National Rifle Association. During the debates, he noted that his views on gun control changed after the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting. Walz’s weak positioning on gun issues may be disappointing for some Democrats.