Young voters watching VP debate eager to hear views on abortion, immigration — but mostly eager to vote
Abortion and immigration were among the most important issues for Northwestern University students who gathered on campus Tuesday night to watch the vice presidential debate between Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Ohio Sen. JD Vance.
About 30 students, many of whom will be voting in a presidential election for the first time in November, packed the lounge at Communication Residential College to hear the candidates speak on the issues and discuss the debate.
The students sat in the lounge quietly listening as the debate opened with a question on Iran ’s recent attack on Israel.
They remained stoic — until a climate change question came up. There was a loud chuckle among the students when Vance said “let’s just say it’s true” for the sake of argument that carbon emissions cause climate change.
That was one issue Timmy Woodward, 19, was hoping the two candidates would address. The others were abortion and immigration.
“I think those are the most pressing issues, at least the issues in the country right now that are creating the most divide,” the freshman theater major said ahead of the debate. “I think the difficult conversations are the ones that we need to have."
Broadcast live from New York, the debate was moderated by CBS Evening News anchor Norah O'Donnell and Margaret Brennan, host of "Face the Nation." The network had said the moderators would focus on guiding the discussion rather than fact checking.
Woodward, who lives in the swing state of Pennsylvania, is excited about being able to cast his first presidential vote in this election.
“I think it’s a very important one, I'm fortunate that I get to vote in such a pivotal election, and that my vote really matters,” Woodward said.
Before the debate, Hattie Saal, who will also be casting a vote in a presidential election for the first time next month, said she hoped to hear Walz spar with Vance on abortion.
“I doubt that JD Vance will be able to uphold an important conversation on the importance of abortion and bodily autonomy,” she said. “I’m curious how Tim Walz will present the issue.”
Saal,18, who is from New York City and majoring in social science and legal studies, was also looking forward to casting her first ever presidential vote in November.
“My parents always taught me the importance of civic activism. They would take me with them to go vote when I was little,” the freshman said. “It’s so exciting to finally have that opportunity of my own.”
August Martone, 18, of Maryland, said he had been hoping to hear Vance clarify his stance on gay marriage. Martone said that was important for him because he said his mother wasn’t able to marry the woman she loved until his home state legalized same-sex marriage in 2013.
“Things like being able to keep my family together have always been very important to me, and that’s one thing I would like to keep secure in the future,” he said. “I have not heard much from Vance. And what I have heard has been sort of wishy-washy. So I would like to hear his concrete stance on that.”
Like his classmates, the radio, television and film major was mostly eager to help make history in November.
“I’ve been looking forward for this opportunity to make my voice heard in an actual way,” he said.