The candidates in Ohio鈥檚 close and expensive U.S. Senate race in Ohio faced off on abortion, inflation, defense of Ukraine and Taiwan and other key issues in , on Monday in Cleveland.
While the candidates are courting voters in a state that went for Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020, they sparred over questions about politics and the former president.
Political observers have noted both Republican J.D. Vance and Democrat Tim Ryan have been sounding the same themes in this campaign as they chase voters. And in the first debate, they even dressed the same 鈥� both in blue suits, white shirts and red ties.
Polls show most voters say the economy and inflation are their top issues. So it was the first question in the debate. Vance said federal spending is the problem.
鈥淪imultaneously they鈥檝e borrowed and spent trillions of dollars that we just don鈥檛 have and that鈥檚 thrown fuel on the fire of the inflation problem and at the same time they鈥檝e gone to war against America鈥檚 energy sector,鈥� Vance said.
Ryan said he supported the billions of spending in the infrastructure law and the CHIPS Act, which were both bipartisan, and the Inflation Reduction Act, which wasn鈥檛. But he stopped short of defending President Biden when asked if he鈥檚 at fault for record-high inflation.
鈥淚 think everybody鈥檚 to blame - I mean, we鈥檙e coming out of a pandemic. It鈥檚 a problem,鈥� said Ryan. 鈥淭he question is, are we going to sit around another ten years and point fingers? What I鈥檝e been proposing is a significant tax cut for working people and small businesses.鈥�
Ryan and Vance did agree on keeping China tariffs in place. They agreed that Taiwan should be defended and a strong response in Ukraine was needed, but neither was specific on what that would be.
But on social issues, they split sharply. Ryan said he wants a federal law guaranteeing the right to abortion, while Vance said he would be fine with a national standard such as a ban after 15 weeks.
Ryan supports a federal bill to codify marriage equality. Vance said while same-sex marriage is the law of the land, he鈥檚 opposed to the Respect for Marriage Act.
鈥淭he problem with this legislation is it鈥檚 going to unleash a wave of litigation against our churches, our religious organizations, our mosques, our synagogues, everything 鈥� that鈥檚 why I don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 a great idea,鈥� Vance said.
While Vance said he wouldn鈥檛 apply a litmus test to potential U.S. Supreme Court justices, Ryan said he would: 鈥淚 will have a litmus test on Roe v Wade, I鈥檒l have a litmus test on the same-sex marriage, I鈥檒l have a litmus test on birth control. We can't keep going down this road of taking away rights.鈥�
When the questions were about politics, the candidates sparred. Ryan confirmed he doesn鈥檛 want Biden to run again in 2024, and mentioned his support for some of Trump鈥檚 policies. But Ryan also criticized both Vance and Trump, referencing a crude comment Trump made about Vance last month.
鈥淲e need leaders who have courage to take on their own party. And I鈥檝e proven that and he was called an ass-kisser by the former president,鈥� Ryan said.
Vance came back with a seasonal reference to Halloween: 鈥淭im Ryan has put on a costume where he pretends to be a reasonable moderate. But in fact - he said he stands up to his own party. The last two congresses, Tim, you voted for Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden 100%. You consistently toe the party line on every single issue.鈥�
Vance was asked about being endorsed by and campaigning with Trump, who鈥檚 facing multiple criminal investigations. Vance said he hasn鈥檛 seen anything to suggest Trump should be imprisoned but that the justice system should work that out 鈥� but also said he鈥檚 concerned about that at the federal level.
鈥淚f you want to go after a former president, a likely 鈥� or possible future president or at least a future political candidate, you鈥檝e got to tell the American people why. We have really corruption leadership at the Department of Justice and that鈥檚 a problem,鈥� Vance said.
Vance has repeated the false claim that the 2020 election featured widespread illegal voting. In this debate, Vance, who launched his campaign with the help of tech billionaire Peter Thiel, blamed Facebook and what he called Big Tech for threatening democracy.
But Ryan said those who stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6 and deny the 2020 election results are threats.
鈥淭his is the crowd that J.D.鈥檚 running around with 鈥� the election deniers, the extremists,鈥� Ryan said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 not Ohio.鈥�
But both candidates did say clearly that they will accept the results of the 2022 election. Vance and Ryan are scheduled to debate one more time, next Monday in Youngstown.
