Vance and Walz debate draws 43 million viewers, lower than previous years

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The vice presidential debate between Ohio Senator JD Vance and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz garnered 43 million viewers on Tuesday night, according to Nielsen. The debate, moderated by CBS News and aired across 15 networks, including Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC, saw fewer viewers compared to recent debates.

This viewership figure is notably lower than the 57.5 million who tuned in for last month's presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. Additionally, the 2020 vice presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Mike Pence attracted 57.9 million viewers.

In comparison, the largest audience for a vice presidential debate occurred in 2008, when 70 million people watched the debate between Joe Biden and former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.

While Tuesday’s debate saw fewer viewers, it remains a significant moment in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election.