The 2024 vice presidential candidates have starkly contrasting views on points key to voters this election cycle.
Former President Donald Trump tapped Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, to affix him on the Republican ticket, whereas Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minn., was chosen as Vice President Kamala Harris’ operating mate. Walz and Vance share views and coverage factors that just about mirror these of their operating mates, however the two are far aside on main points affecting most Americans.
Here is the place the 2 dueling candidates stand on prime points.
Immigration
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Walz has lengthy supported a pathway to citizenship for unlawful immigrants and has labored to go laws permitting them to have extra rights within the U.S.
Walz appeared to voice assist for “sanctuary policies” in 2018, and in 2023 he signed laws to permit unlawful immigrants to acquire state drivers’ licenses. During his tenure as governor, Minnesota handed measures to make unlawful immigrants eligible for tuition-free school underneath the North Star Promise program.
Vance helps securing the southern border by resuming development of the Trump-era border wall. The senator has incessantly criticized the Biden administration’s dealing with of the disaster on the southern border.
“It’s hard to believe, until you see it with your own eyes, just how bad the policies of the Kamala Harris administration have been when it comes to the southern border,” Vance stated throughout a latest go to to the border.
Abortion
In 2021, earlier than becoming a member of the Senate, Vance wrote on X, previously Twitter, that abortion is “the first political issue I can ever remember caring about.” Asked concerning the concern of abortion throughout his Senate debate in 2022, Vance stated that he helps “some minimum national standard.”
He not too long ago advised “Meet the Press” that he helps the abortion capsule mifepristone “being accessible,” after the Supreme Court dominated in opposition to pro-life advocates who sued to finish its Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval.
Walz signed the Protect Reproductive Options Act into legislation in 2023, a invoice that codified abortion into the Minnesota state Constitution. The governor has additionally made efforts to determine protections for folks touring from out of state for an abortion.
During his first marketing campaign rally with Harris, Walz emphasised his backing of in-vitro fertilization remedies (IVF), which he stated his spouse used earlier than her being pregnant.
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Before becoming a member of forces on the 2024 ticket, Harris and Walz visited an abortion clinic collectively in March.
Second Amendment
Walz has stated that he’s a gun proprietor, but additionally helps imposing extra restrictions on firearms, together with enacting an AR-15 ban.
The governor signed a invoice requiring extra intensive background checks and a “red flag” legislation for gun purchases.
Vance, a firearm proprietor, is a robust 2nd Amendment supporter and incessantly pushes again in opposition to the Biden administration’s stance on the problem.
After being chosen to run with Trump, Vance’s candidacy was praised by the National Rifle Association of America (NRA).
Israel
Vance has vocalized his assist for Israel and continued U.S. funding to the IDF.
“As we watch this horrible situation in Israel unfold, Americans must face a stark truth: our tax dollars funded this. Money is fungible, and many of the dollars we sent to Iran are being used to now kill innocent people,” Vance stated in an Oct. 7 submit on X. “This must stop. Israel has every right to defend itself. I wish our friends well, but most of all, I wish they weren’t fighting against weapons bought with our money.”
Walz has additionally expressed assist for Israel and its proper to exist, whereas additionally sympathizing with these in Gaza.
“You can hold competing things: That Israel has the right to defend itself, and the atrocities of October 7 are unacceptable, but Palestinian civilians being caught in this . . . has got to end,” Walz stated throughout an look on Minnesota Public Radio in March, in line with a report from Al Jazeera.
Social Issues
Last yr, Walz signed a invoice that required colleges to supply free menstrual merchandise to college students in grades 4 by 12, together with in boys’ bogs.
Minnesota turned a “trans refuge state” after Walz signed an order permitting folks, together with youngsters, from out of state to obtain transgender surgical procedures and hormone prescriptions.
Walz additionally signed a controversial invoice into legislation that forestalls books, which can embody express materials, from being faraway from public colleges.
Vance launched the Protect Children’s Innocence Act in 2023 that sought to make it a felony to carry out any gender reassignment surgical procedure on a minor.
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The senator can also be vocal that “there are only two genders,” introducing laws to require that passports mirror an individual’s organic intercourse somewhat than their gender id.
Fox News’ Adam Shaw, Jamie Joseph, and Michael Lee contributed to this report.