Donald Trump and Kamala Harris faced each other on the debate stage Tuesday night for the first and possibly the last time. The Democratic vice president opened the debate with a power move, marching across the stage to Trump’s lectern to shake his hand.
The exchange set the tone for the next 90 minutes. Harris controlled the conversation at times, baiting Trump with jabs at his economic policy, his refusal to concede his 2020 election loss and even his performance at his rallies. While Trump was often on defense, he did drive the core message of his campaign — that inflation and immigration are hammering Americans.
Illinois politicians had plenty of reactions to the much-anticipated showdown. Governor JB Pritzker released a statement reiterating his support for Harris.
“Kamala Harris is a proven leader who built her career standing up for America’s working families. From strengthening the middle class to protecting individual rights and freedoms, she has repeatedly shown she has the character and vision to not just lead our country but to strengthen it,” he said.
“That character was on full display as she eviscerated Donald Trump, meeting his lies with truth, fear with optimism, and nonsense with real policies to help the American people.” Pritzker went on to call Trump a “racist, misogynist, homophobe and 34-time convicted felon who can not be allowed to serve a second term.”
Senator Tammy Duckworth also praised Harris’ performance on X and mentioned how she believes Trump could limit women’s reproductive rights as well as access to IVF if elected.
It’s clear: @KamalaHarris has a plan to help our working families while Donald Trump is only interested in helping his billionaire friends and big corporations get ahead.
— Tammy Duckworth (@TammyDuckworth) September 11, 2024
Reminder: Access to IVF, abortion and women's reproductive care is all at risk because of the Supreme Court Justices Trump brags about appointing.
— Tammy Duckworth (@TammyDuckworth) September 11, 2024
If elected he won't stop there.
We're not going back.
However, Congresswoman Mary Miller attacked Harris post-debate mentioning gun rights and criticizing the Biden administration’s withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Kamala Harris and Joe Biden lit the world on fire with their disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, which signaled to the world that Biden-Harris were weak & incompetent. https://t.co/D1sDWCyt7o
— Mary Miller (@Miller_Congress) September 11, 2024
🚨Kamala Harris just lied AGAIN on stage when she said she won’t take your guns away. Kamala Harris has supported gun bans and MANDATORY gun confiscation for years! 👇 pic.twitter.com/H2atbUbZmJ
— Mary Miller (@Miller_Congress) September 11, 2024
The Associated Press contributed to this report.