Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan and Republican author and businessman JD Vance debated Monday for the second time in their race to replace retiring Republican Ohio Sen. Rob Portman.
During their first debate, the two focused primarily on policy issues, most notably abortion, immigration and economics. The two got more personal Monday night, with Ryan implying Vance is racist and Vance calling Ryan a failed career politician. Here are the three biggest moments from Monday’s debate:
Vance Blames Open Borders For Rape Of 10-Year-Old:
Vance noted for the second time the case of a ten-year-old girl in Ohio who was raped by an illegal immigrant, claiming that open borders presided over by Democrats are the reason she was assaulted.
“That little girl was raped by an illegal immigrant,” he said. “We need to be honest about the fact that she would have never been raped in the first place if Tim Ryan had done his job on border security.”
Ryan Calls Vance Racist:
Ryan accused Vance of “peddling” the Great Replacement Theory, which asserts that political elites are importing illegal immigrants to gain political and economic power.
“You are so desperate for political power that you’ll accuse me, the father of three beautiful biracial babies, of engaging in racism, we’re sick of it. You can believe in a border without being racist. You can believe in the country without being a racist,” Vance responded.
JD Vance to Tim Ryan: “You are so desperate for political power that you’ll accuse me, the father of three beautiful biracial babies of engaging in racism. We are sick of it! You can believe in a border without being a racist.” pic.twitter.com/5oYHjzPDcn
— Apex World News (@apexworldnews) October 18, 2022
“And this just shows how desperate this guy is for political power. I know you’ve been in office for 20 years, Tim, and I know it’s a sweet gig. But you’re so desperate not to have a real job that you’ll slander me and slander my family, it is disgraceful.”
“I think I struck a nerve,” Ryan responded.
Vance Highlights Ryan’s Votes With Nancy Pelosi:
The Vance campaign has repeatedly noted that Ryan has voted with Democratic Party leadership 100% of the time during the 117th Congress. Ryan is running an ad comparing his relationship with party leadership to a marriage, saying that he and his wife only agree 70% of the time. (RELATED: Democrats In Competitive Races Criticize Biden’s Student Loan Gambit)
“Must make things a little awkward in the Ryan household, I suppose,” Vance joked. “But look, you vote with her 100% of the time, so you can’t run from the policies that she has supported, that she has shoved down the throat of people in Ohio.”