Young voters react to Vance-Walz debate
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) appeared on the debate stage across one another for the first, and only, time Tuesday night.
Young voters have been a focus of both the Kamala Harris and Donald Trump campaigns; ages 18-24 have long been the lowest age group for voter turnout.
NBC 4 caught up with watch parties for Republicans and Democrats Tuesday night. After the debate, local leaders for young Republicans and young Democrats offered their thoughts on what they thought of the performances and the upcoming election.
Watch: Young voters react to the only vice-presidential debate
NBC 4: "What was your biggest takeaway after watching tonight's debate?"
Kimberly Agyekum, president of Ohio Young Democrats: "I think the biggest takeaway, is that J.D. Vance presented to the American people, extreme his policies. While, Tim Walz, for the Harris-Walz ticket really focused on the things that folks need and in particular, young people. [..] to actually ease the burden, to get your first home, protect our rights here."
Libby Krieger, central regional vice chair for Ohio Young Republicans: "My biggest takeaway watching this vice-presidential debate tonight is that Kamala Harris and Tim Walz need this election to be about vibes and popularity rather than policy. On all of the policy issues that they talked about tonight -- the economy, immigration, even the conflict in Israel -- Tim Walz has run from the fact that he knows those facts do not support him and Kamala Harris."
NBC4: "What is the number one issue for young voters heading into November?"
Krieger: "I think the number one issue that we're seeing voters care about is the economy. It’s something that they feel the impact of every day when they're filling up their gas tank, when they are checking out at the grocery store. They see those prices and they're not coming down... voters trust president former President Donald Trump on the economy much more. And I think that's going to be impactful at the polls."
Agyekum: "How are we going to get ahead as we're growing? Right? Are we going to hit these first milestones? Right. Buying a house, starting a family if you want to, you know, being able to make the moves that you want to make as, as as we're growing. And, you know, I think that's really something that, a lot of young people are, that's on a lot of young people's minds.”