WASHINGTON – Ohio Senate candidates J.D. Vance and Tim Ryan made their final arguments Tuesday over abortion, immigration, inflation and other issues – including styles of leadership – that could decide a pivotal U.S. Senate race.
In a FOX News Channel town hall in Columbus, each candidate took questions in separate segments in front of a crowd of some 200 voters.
Ryan, currently a U.S. House member, struck a moderate tone, saying he wants to work with Republicans and Democrats; he also criticized Vance and the Donald Trump MAGA political movement for “extremism” that may be encouraging violence, such as the recent attack on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband.
“We’ve got to stop the stupid fights,” Ryan said during the town hall where the audience took turns cheering their guy.
Vance, an author and venture capitalist who is supported by Trump, disputed Ryan’s assessment of his political positions.
“Tim should have better researchers,” Vance said at one point.
The candidates previously clashed over abortion, gun control and immigration. But this was not a debate, and the candidates did not engage with each other; under the town hall format, they responded to questions from audience members, moderators, and social media users.
As a result, both candidates played up their top issues.
Ryan hit Vance for his opposition to abortion rights; Vance stressed immigration and called Ryan soft on border security.
Some highlights:
Smart analysis delivered to your inbox: Sign up for the OnPolitics newsletter
Debate recap: Ohio Senate candidates J.D. Vance, Tim Ryan face off in Youngstown debate
Vance on whether he would vote for McConnell for GOP Senate leader
The last questioner asked Vance if he would vote for Kentucky GOP Sen. Mitch McConnell – the current GOP leader – to keep his job in what would likely be Vance’s first vote as a new senator.
Vance replied that he is “certainly not voting for (Democratic Senate Leader) Chuck Schumer.”
Vance said if McConnell is the only person who runs, it would be “an easy decision.”
“We’ll see what happens when I get to Washington D.C., but at the end of the day, I’m going to represent the people of Ohio and I plan to be an independent voice for the people of Ohio.”
“Nobody is going to own my vote card,” he said.
– Rachel Looker
Vance says teachers ‘could use’ better pay, resources
After being asked about what he would do in the Senate to improve schools and help teachers in Ohio, Vance praised public schools. He spoke about his personal experience in the public school system before saying teachers and schools “could use” better pay and resources.
He mentioned talks with teachers and – saying he didn’t want to cast blame – how the COVID pandemic made teachers and kids “miserable.”
The Republican said “we need to accept that we made a lot of mistakes.” Vance said he thinks a combination of learning from past mistakes and increased resources will set teachers up for more success over the next 20 years.
– Sarah Elbeshbishi
Vance: abortion should mainly be state-level decision
Vance said that abortion rights should be determined by both the federal and state governments, but states should make 90% of the decision on abortion. He voiced support for current legislation – a 15-week ban sponsored by South Carolina GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham – saying that it establishes “reasonable” exceptions while also setting a “minimum national standard.”
“We should not, in this country, be aborting babies who can feel pain, who are fully formed. That’s my view, and I’m certainly willing to support legislation that would make that a reality,” Vance said.
– Sarah Elbeshbishi
Vance aims to ‘listen and communicate better’ to foster civility
When asked how he could contribute to more civility between leaders, Vance said the most important thing he could do as senator is listen and communicate better.
He said he worries about how with big technology, people don’t talk to one another and assume the very worst about anyone who disagrees with their stance.
Vance said he thinks as senator, he can listen to people he may disagree with and have conversations with people, adding that’s something “we do way too little of in this country.”
– Rachel Looker
Vance turns Pelosi attack into immigration issue
Vance condemned the attack on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband, Paul, and said it should not be turned into a political issue by blaming conservative rhetoric – though he promptly linked it to the immigration issue instead.
More: Alleged Paul Pelosi attacker pleads not guilty at court appearance; will remain jailed
Vance noted that the suspect was in the country illegally, and therefore should never have had the chance to attack Pelosi.
“We need to deport violent illegal aliens,” Vance said.
– David Jackson
Endorsing integrity of Ohio elections, Vance said he’ll support Senate race outcome
A woman in the audience asked Vance if he believes in the integrity of Ohio elections and what his message will be if he loses the race.
“I do believe in the integrity of Ohio’s elections,” Ryan said, adding that the Ohio secretary of state does a great job administering Ohio elections.
He added that he expects to win, but if he doesn’t he will support the other winning candidate.
On election integrity, Vance said some states could work to make elections more secure, such as establishing universal voter ID and advocating common sense elections laws.
When asked about his previous comments echoing groundless claims that the 2020 election was stolen, he said a number of state courts have found they didn’t conduct elections in accordance with their own state laws and constitutions. He said battleground states should run free and fair elections.
More: Fact check: How we know the 2020 election results were legitimate, not ‘rigged’ as Donald Trump claims
Vance said the biggest threats to American democracy are big technology companies in bed with the communist Chinese.
“I don’t want these companies interfering in our elections,” he said.
– Rachel Looker
Vance calls for bipartisanship on border policy
When asked about what he would do to secure the southern border, Vance said that the border wall needs to be finished and that the U.S. should declare drug cartels as a terrorist organization.
The candidate acknowledged that President Joe Biden may not want to do some of the ideas he suggested, however, he believes that there’s a likely chance for both parties to work together.
“I think that if we get Republican majorities in Congress, that Democrats are going to be forced to work with us on a couple of things,” Vance said. “We need to be willing to reach across the aisle and say ‘Look, if you’re willing to get things done for the sake of this country, of course we’re willing to work with you.’ “
– Sarah Elbeshbishi
Vance blames Biden administration’s borrowing, spending and energy sector for inflation
The first question for Republican Senate nominee J.D. Vance came from a woman from Hilliard, who asked about how Vance will lower the high costs of groceries and medications.
Vance said he was raised by a single mom and his grandmother and can understand the struggles of working families.
He blamed inflation on two factors.
Vance first blamed the Biden administration citing the administration’s borrowing and spending– “throwing fuel on the fire” — causing the cost of everything to rise.
The second factor he referenced is the “war” against America’s energy sector. Vance said when energy is expensive, it causes the prices of everything else to rise as well.
To lower prices, Vance said the country needs to stop borrowing and spending and open up Ohio’s energy markets to get prices under control.
The Republican said one of the good outcomes of the Inflation Reduction Act is how it empowers Medicare to negotiate with prescription drug providers to bring down costs for families. The Biden-inspired legislation also capped the cost of insulin for Medicare recipients.
“You should not be unable to afford insulin in the greatest country in the world because you can’t afford it,” he said.
– Rachel Looker
Vance: I support ‘legal’ immigration
While hitting the immigration issue hard, Vance said he supports “legal” immigration as one way to address American labor shortages.
People should be let into the country on “merit,” Vance said, including the ability to do certain types of jobs. He is not very specific.
Vance said his target is “illegal” border crossings.
– David Jackson
‘More border control not less’: Ryan speaks on fentanyl, southern border policy
A voter from Portsmouth, Ohio, asked Ryan why he voted against border and drug enforcement funding and called for defunding ICE when he’s acknowledged that fentanyl is an issue in the country.
Ryan responded to the voter, saying that he “never” called for defunding ICE and has actually voted for more border security and has proposed a resolution in Congress to designate the drug as a “weapon of mass destruction.”
Ryan also explained why he doesn’t support a wall, listing other measures the country should take to improve the situation at the southern border.
The problem with the wall, he said, is that drug lords such as El Chapo “can dig under (it) and people can put ladders up and climb over it.”
– Sarah Elbeshbishi
Ryan shares stance on abortion
When asked about abortion, Ryan said he does not think abortions should be allowed later in the term unless there is a medical emergency.
He said what’s happening in Ohio is “sad” because many women whose lives are at risk later in their pregnancy have to travel to another state for an abortion.
Ryan said the country should return to the standards established in Roe v. Wade where abortions are largely prohibited after the third term unless there is a medical emergency.
“We don’t want J.D. Vance and (Texas GOP Sen.) Ted Cruz and all these guys in the doctor’s office,” he said.
When pressed on his stance, Ryan said if an individual is raped in Ohio, they are facing a state-mandated pregnancy when unable to access abortion later in their terms.
“The point is this is America. This is a country built on freedom,” he said “…it completely steals personal freedom and liberty away from women.”
– Rachel Looker
Ryan: The Trump/MAGA movement needs to be ‘confronted’
Responding to a Twitter question, Ryan said he used a poor choice of words on the campaign trail w