UD Midterms: J.D. Vance, Tim Ryan Final Senate Debate

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Facts

  • With less than a month before the US midterm elections, Ohio Senate candidates Congressman Tim Ryan (D) and venture capitalist J.D. Vance (R) met for a final, heated debate on Monday, covering topics such as racism, immigration, abortion, and guns.
  • The debate became heated at the end when the moderator asked about the "great replacement theory," the conspiracy theory that liberals are attempting to gain power by replacing white voters through means such as illegal immigration.
  • Vance alleged that Democrats want "more and more immigration because if that happens, they'll ensure Republicans are never able to win another national election." This saw Ryan accuse Vance of supporting the theory, with the Republican candidate responding by saying those types of "shameful" accusations see online attacks on his biracial children.
  • On abortion, Ryan said he would “spend all [his] time trying to fight a national abortion ban.” Vance says it's "totally reasonable to say you cannot abort a baby, especially for elective reasons, after 15 weeks of gestation.”
  • On gun control, Vance said gun violence is the result of "Democrats [deciding] to declare war on America's beliefs" and promoted the idea of allowing teachers to be armed in schools. Ryan, however, promoted background checks and "[making] sure that these weapons of war are not readily available."
  • The race to replace the retiring moderate Republican Sen. Rob Portman is proving to be a close competition with Vance up by an average of just two percentage points, according to the most recent polling by Real Clear Politics.

Sources: Newsbud, NBC, FOX News, CNN, Washington Examiner, and CBS.

Narratives

  • Republican narrative, as provided by FOX News. Even before this second and final debate, the polls were showing Vance in the lead. After his fierce performance last night and with Ryan proving himself to be a race-baiter, Vance only looks stronger and stronger with the election fast approaching.
  • Democratic narrative, as provided by Yahoo News. Though American voters clearly sent a message of distaste for Donald Trump in 2020, Vance has kept the former president in the spotlight, which is a bad move. Ohioans are tired of this type of rhetoric and want to return to a more moderate policy — something Ryan is ready to offer.

Predictions