San Francisco Democrats watch as JD Vance and Tim Walz clash in the vice presidential debate

MMore than 200 San Francisco Democrats filled their party headquarters this week to attend the vice presidential debate, with just five weeks until Election Day.

U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, went head-to-head in a spirited debate that could be the last until voters must officially decide their choice for presidency on November 1. 5.

Members and affiliates of the San Francisco Democratic Party watched along with California Attorney General Rob Bonta, State Comptroller Malia Cohen and State Assemblymember Matt Haney, D-San Francisco.

They spoke before the debate to motivate and energize the crowd, many of whom volunteered to campaign for former San Francisco district attorney and presidential candidate Kamala Harris in calling swing states.

“We have 35 days to elect a hometown hero to be the next president, the first San Francisco Democrat to win and the first San Francisco Democrat to become president of the United States,” Haney said. “Tonight we will also see a difference in vision for our country that could not be sharper.”

Haney predicted Vance would continue to hammer on immigration and amplify statements Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump made about Haitian migrants during a Harris debate in August, accusing them of “eating the pets” of people living in Springfield , Ohio, home to a significant immigrant population. immigrants from Haiti.

“On the other side, you hear nothing but exclusion and hatred,” Haney said. “They find the most vulnerable people, bully them and scapegoat them. They make up lies about them, like this nonsense about Haitians and immigrants. That’s the bullshit Vance is going to say tonight.”

Watch as partygoers gathered around multiple television screens Tuesday night, erupting in cheers at Walz’s responses and shaking their heads as Vance spoke.

Although Vance did not repeat Trump’s controversial statement about Haitian migrants, he did refer to immigration in many of his answers. For example, when asked about reducing school shootings, Vance said the guns used in school shootings cross the border into Mexico illegally.

“While we’re on this topic, we know that thanks to Kamala Harris’ open border, we’ve seen a huge influx in the number of illegal weapons controlled by the Mexican drug cartels,” Vance said.

Roz Romney, a longtime San Francisco Democratic Party volunteer, was outraged that Vance was dodging questions to refocus on immigration.

“He was asked a question about abortion, and then said, ‘first of all, blah blah blah immigrants blah blah,’ trying to avoid the question,” she said. “And he was good at it. It made me a little frustrated.”

During a break midway through the debate, the audience gathered again to listen to Bonta’s thoughts.

“Thank you for showing up to support the incredible Governor Walz. Our jolly warrior, our upstanding uncle, as he takes on JD Vance. From what we just saw, Vance is just downright weird,” Bonta said. “He is a hypocrite and we know we cannot trust what he says.”

(L-R) California Attorney General Rob Bonta and California State Assembly Member Matt Haney speak at San Francisco Democratic Party headquarters during a watch party for the vice presidential debate in San Francisco, California on Tuesday October 1, 2024. (Alise Maripuu/ Bay City News)

At the end of the debate, the crowd let out thunderous applause in response to Walz bringing up Vance’s mention of the attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021, and Trump’s unwillingness to take his loss to President Joe Biden accept. Elections 2020.

Walz asked Vance directly: “Did he lose the 2020 election?”

“Tim, I’m focused on the future,” Vance said.

The audience mocked his answer, noting that this answer confirmed their choice of Harris and Walz.

“The fact that Vance refused to answer that was a clear moment where he ultimately couldn’t wriggle out of that question,” Romney said.

Diane Tate, a volunteer for the Democratic Party of San Francisco, jumped up and down with excitement and cheers at the end of the debate. She also emphasized the importance of the final conversation between Vance and Walz regarding Jan. 6.

“I thought he could show his humanity and his approachability, which is crucial for voters. He was excellent tonight.”

SF Democratic Party volunteer Diane Tate on Tim Walz’s debate performance

“When they talked about January 6 at the end, their answers made it perfectly clear what our choice was,” Tate said. “Vance’s response was miserable and petty when he couldn’t even answer whether Trump lost or not.”

Tate was one of many audience members who left the debate with confidence in Walz’s performance.

“I thought he could show his humanity and his approachability, which is critical to voters,” she said. “He was excellent tonight.”