In the fall of 2024, the University of Maine experienced an unprecedented 13% increase in enrollment, according to an article by Quinn D’Alessio. This comes after the closure of Estabrooke Hall, which was formerly a dormitory that held 96 beds before being converted into office spaces. Moreover, it appears that enrollment will continue to grow, as it rose by another 2.1% this semester alone.

According to a Presidential Town Hall meeting that took place on March  24, UMaine is currently able to offer 3,500 beds to students living on campus. At the meeting, Vice President for Finance and Administration and Chief Business Officer Kelly Sparks explained that the housing shortage resulted in students being placed in “space off‑site, triples, lounges, creative solutions to accommodate students.”

During this time of unexpectedly high enrollment, students may be left wondering how the UMaine Administration will help alleviate the housing shortage. Auxiliary Enterprises Executive Director Richard Young addressed some of the changes being made in preparation for the next semester.

“Housing Services at UMaine makes a commitment that all first-year students who apply for housing have an opportunity for a space in our halls. Most first–year students will live in a double-occupancy room in our halls,” said Young. “We added 62 beds back into our halls by reconfiguring rooms from double singles to doubles.”

It is unclear whether new dormitories will be built in lieu of Estabrooke’s closure.UMaine is undergoing a review of on-campus housing to determine next steps, and no decisions have yet been made thus far. 

According to Young, there is a Campus Housing Committee that is currently waiting for the report made by a third-party consultant who assesses various buildings. The data collected during includes on-campus housing inventory, future demand and assessment of the current resident halls, synthesized to make future housing recommendations.  

 “Housing continues to look for ways to improve our halls for students to enhance the living environment creating a home away from home at UMaine,” said Young. 

Once the recommendations are submitted, the committee will assess potential construction options in a report to Senior Leadership. Current residence halls may undergo physical improvements such as fresh coats of paint, restroom upgrades, carpet replacement, new furniture and lobby alterations. He added that the university is expanding its off-campus housing options to help combat overflow housing. 

“UMaine Housing has leased 10 apartments at Orchard Trails, each with four beds for a total of 40 available beds. The student rents these apartments with UMaine Housing using the same process as DTAV and Patch apartments. These apartments are available for upperclass students,” Young added. 

UMaine is also negotiating with Hotel Ursa to reserve several of their rooms for students aged 21 and over. The administration notably had success with this route in previous semesters.

“Our goal is to provide all students with an exceptional experience when they arrive and the most important part is to ensure they have a safe and secure place to reside, engage and develop a sense of belonging,” said Young.

The University of Maine Administration held a Presidential Town Hall meeting on March 24 to announce budget changes beginning in Fall 2025. One of the most notable changes was an increase in tuition and housing rates on both the Orono and Machias campuses. Both in-state and out-of-state tuition will increase by 3%, and on-campus housing costs will see a 4.25% increase. These changes will bring tuition costs to an estimated $31,000 per year for in-state and Canadian students and $55,000 for out-of-state students, as compared to the current $30,000 and $53,000, respectively. 

The tuition and housing cost increases come after a sudden loss of grants and funding due to federal budget cuts. The U.S. Department of Agriculture decision to pause almost $30 million in grants during the Title IX investigation of UMaine also played a role in the budget changes, despite the funds having been reinstated.

Some students are unsure of how to feel about these new developments. While they recognize the potential benefits of higher revenue, they are also aware of the drawbacks that come with charging students more money. Fiona Johnson, a first-year biochemistry student, shared her thoughts.

“I heard about [the tuition increases] through my mom, who works in the UMaine system. I think they’ll cause financial strain. Costs are already too high for many families. Luckily, I’ll still be able to afford tuition and housing, but the increase does mean that my parents are paying more than they expected to, and budgets need to be changed,” said Johnson. “I have no clue why the increase is happening.”

Lorien Schulte, a first-year wildlife ecology student, also expressed her opinion. She mentioned that she was not aware of the increase, and that UMaine has not been communicative about the budget changes.

“I’m sure there’s been a little communication, but I check my inbox regularly and I haven’t heard anything about the increase or the reasons behind it,” said Schulte. 

“I think it will definitely create strain for students, including me, but I do understand why they’re doing it. It will definitely make [affording my education] harder, My tuition gets paid up to 15 credits a semester, but if I want to take any more than that, it’s out of pocket,” said Schulte. “An increase in housing [costs] will definitely be hard for me.”

Both Schulte and Johnson would like to see more support in terms of scholarships, whether it’s better accessibility or more funding. 

“With what looks like an oncoming recession and tuition rates higher than they’ve ever been, a lot of students are going to struggle to afford basic living, let alone pay for college on top of that. It’s vital to provide support, and I don’t feel like the university has done that to the best of its ability,” said Schulte.

Those interested in learning more about the scholarships and financial aid options offered by UMaine can visit the Student Financial Aid website.

A recent study conducted by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that nearly one-third of U.S. adults know someone who has died from a drug overdose. To combat this crisis, the University of Maine’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) partnered with Needlepoint Sanctuary on Feb. 27 to offer an overdose prevention training program to staff, faculty and student employees. The goal was to reduce the number of opioid overdose-related deaths on campus and to educate attendees on a “compassion-based overdose response.” Participants were taught how to handle an overdose situation and were supplied with naloxone, more commonly marketed as Narcan. 

In total, 17 people attended the training. Speaker and Executive Director of Needlepoint Sanctuary Willie Hurley began by offering a brief history of the organization which started as an underground operation dedicated to helping active drug users and preventing overdoses. The organization’s dormouse mascot was chosen as a reference to their “meek” nature, Hurley shared. He added that it was also because mice can be disruptive and Needlepoint Sanctuary disrupts the current system for handling drug-related activity by showing compassion to people affected by drug use. 

“The people we are serving are awfully powerless,” Hurley said. 

Next, he moved on to identifying the difference between opioids and opiates; the former are synthetic drugs and the latter are directly derived from the Opium Poppy, though the family of drugs is simply referred to as opioids. Opioids include substances like heroin, fentanyl, Vicodin, oxycodone, Percocet, codeine, OxyContin and morphine. Hurley explained that opioids create a sense of “ease, comfort and euphoria,” hence their desirability.

Hurley cited the source of the current opioid epidemic as being the prohibition of drugs as well as pharmaceutical companies overprescribing opioids and then intentionally catering to addicts to boost their revenue. An article written by the Harvard School of Public Health confirms his claim. Hurley also explained that the decline in accessibility to healthcare and social services exacerbates mental health conditions, which may push some people to use drugs in an attempt to “fix” it.

“There are some people who are at the most risk for an overdose, and in some weird ways, some who are at the least,” Hurley said.

The next segment in the training program covered the specifics of recognizing an opioid overdose. People experiencing an overdose are unresponsive to touch, sound, stimulation and may not be breathing. There is an important distinction between an overdose and “nodding out,” which occurs when a person reaches an elevated high and becomes sleepy, but is still responsive; in this case, the person does not require revival. 

In the event of an overdose, the suffering individual’s airway should be checked and cleared, they should be placed into the recovery position, rescue breathing should be provided and then naloxone should be administered either through an intramuscular injection or via the nostrils. Once the person is revived, they may experience precipitated withdrawal, which occurs when an opioid high is suddenly interrupted, causing withdrawal symptoms. This may cause the person to become aggressive.

Post-overdose experiences often include a feeling of being scatterbrained, a sense of confusion and a fight-or-flight response. It is important to comfort the person who experienced the overdose once they come to.

In general, paramedics should be notified after the first dose of naloxone to ensure the safety of the person experiencing an overdose. Police officials tend to take drug use very seriously, but the Good Samaritan Law does exist as a protection for both the person experiencing an overdose and the person administering aid. This prevents both individuals from being arrested for nonviolent drug-related crimes. 

At UMaine, the most common instances of drug use appear to be related to marijuana, with very few documented overdose incidents overall. However, students are occasionally caught with other substances or paraphernalia, such as an incident that occurred on Feb. 1 involving two residents of Knox Hall and another incident on Sept. 20 involving the discovery of a hypodermic needle outside Hotel Ursa. 

Free Narcan is available through the Needlepoint Sanctuary, who will host another overdose prevention training session open to the public later in the month. UMaine also offers the Community First Responder Program to educate Mainers on the signs of an opioid overdose and the steps to revive the person experiencing it. 

In the event of an emergency, contact the University Volunteer Ambulance Corps (UVAC) by dialing 911 and letting the operator know you are at UMaine.

As winter break approaches, local businesses in college towns like Orono brace for a seasonal slowdown. According to Business Insider, students make up as much as 80% of their customer base. For local establishments like Game Citadel, owned by Shawn Allaire, sales drop significantly after mid-December, prompting adjustments like reduced hours and a focus on their flagship location in Bangor.

​​The holidays are almost here, and many students are preparing to head home after finals. While the break offers a chance for students to rest and recharge, local business owners are preparing for the challenges that come with reduced foot traffic during winter break.

According to LinkedIn, the fourth quarter is the biggest time of year for many businesses. The hallmarks of the fourth quarter include Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday and Christmas. Some businesses start to prepare for the fourth quarter months in advance to be able to accommodate the amount of customer traffic they will receive. 

The potential for increased traffic can be different in college towns. Business Insider claims that college town establishments rely heavily on students, who comprise up to 80% of their demographic. While businesses do receive traffic from the Christmas rush, it comes to an end much earlier than in non-college towns due to the start of winter break. However, many businesses have plans in place to combat the impact. 

Shawn Allaire, owner of Game Citadel in Orono and Bangor, contributed his perspective on the matter.

“The student body is a significant portion of the population. So when they’re gone, things change. Although there is a lot of retention over those months, a lot of kids live off of campus and tend to stick around, so I think the shed is only like, 30% that go home,” said Allaire.

He continued by sharing how Game Citadel typically navigates the shift in business. 

“[Students are Christmas shopping at Game Citadel], and they probably will continue to about the 16th, and then it drops off precipitously. We basically shutter that location [ Orono] during those times and focus just on the flagship,” Allaire said. 

Allaire added that the best way to support Game Citadel and other local businesses during the holiday season is to purchase gift cards. However, they usually don’t get used until students return to campus. He also mentioned that many other local businesses are aware of the decrease in sales once college students go home, and they compensate for this by shortening their hours.  

For local businesses in Orono, it’s clear that the return of students after winter break will mark the end of a challenging holiday season and the start of reconnecting with their customer base.

The end of the fall semester is fast approaching. With it, comes an onslaught of deadlines. Preparing for finals can be stressful for any UMaine student, but especially those balancing academics and work. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, around 44% of all college students are employed, with about 40% of full-time students and 78% of part-time students engaging in some form of work. 

In general, students are expected to study two to three hours per credit hour in which they are enrolled. Thus, a part-time student would likely spend a maximum of 36 hours per week on school-related activities, and a full-time student could spend up to 54 hours per week, on average. There are 168 hours per week, and approximately 42 of those are spent sleeping. For unemployed students, this leaves about 72 to 93 hours of free time per week. However, it is another story for employed students. 

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, it is most common for students with jobs to work 20 to 34 hours per week. For a full-time student, that means committing to 130 hours of work and school per week, which leaves 38 hours for meals, hygiene, transportation, social interaction, extracurricular activities and personal activities. 

Many students who choose to work do so to combat rising costs, pay rent or pay back student loans. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the current inflation rate at 2.6%, which is lower than last year but still higher than the national goal. For college students working on minimum wage, this is a difficult situation to navigate. 

Some students also have to contend with housing prices and rent payments, which are steadily increasing. Orono’s average cost of rent is around $1,950 based on a Zillow estimate. With the state minimum wage currently being set at $14.15 per hour and students working around 25 hours per week, they would make around $1,415 per month- not enough to cover rent. The cost of living is only expected to rise from here. 

According to Urban Institute, “30 to 40 percent of all undergraduate students take federal student loans; 70 percent of students who receive a bachelor’s degree have education debt by the time they graduate.”

College students in Maine have an average of $33,845 in student loan debt, with almost $30,000 having been accrued during their time at school, says the Education Data Initiative. It can sometimes take almost 20 years for a student to pay back their loans, and it often takes even longer. 

One student, who wished to remain anonymous, offered his take on employment and the cost of living.

“Thankfully, my scholarships cover most of my rent, but I do feel a lot of pressure as far as affording groceries and other essentials like gas. It feels like I can never work quite enough to build savings. Loan repayments do stress me out as well, but I have them worked into the budget,” the student said. 

He added that school is his priority, but that he has sacrificed a lot of his social life to be able to balance good grades with work. 

If you need help paying for school, Scholarship Universe is a good place to start. You can also contact UMaine’s Student Financial Aid office for more information.

With local and national elections concluded, voters should know who endorsed their candidates. Public endorsements are a powerful way to show support for a candidate and to give them a reputable backing. Anyone can endorse a candidate, but the bigger a person’s following, the more impact that endorsement will have. Many politicians, celebrities and organizations took the time to endorse various candidates during this election season.

Local elections

Maine U.S. Senate Race

Angus King (Independent, incumbent), David Costello (Democrat) and Demi Kouzounas (Republican) were Maine’s leading candidates for the U.S. Senate. 

King has been in politics since 1995, giving him time to accrue endorsements from Equality Maine, Planned Parenthood Action Fund and multiple labor organizations. He was also endorsed by various athletes and local politicians. King is widely accepted as one of Maine’s most popular politicians, and he led a successful campaign to win his third term in the U.S. Senate this election season.

David Costello has worked within government for most of his life. He was endorsed by the University of Maine College Democrats, the Committee to Protect Health Care and the Maine Democratic Party. He also has support from other local Democratic organizations.

Demi Kouzounas has been practicing politics since 2012, and was endorsed by the Christian Civic League of Maine and many civilians. 

U.S. House, Maine’s Second Congressional District (Federal)

Jared Golden (Democrat, incumbent) and Austin Theriault (Republican) were Maine’s leading candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives 2nd Congressional District. 

Golden has been in politics since 2014, and since then, accumulated endorsements from various organizations such as BOLD Democrats, the Human Rights Campaign and VoteVets. He took an impartial stance on this year’s presidential election, predicting a victory for Donald Trump.  He has not made a statement following the results of the presidential election.  

“I refuse to participate in a campaign to scare voters with the idea that Trump will end our democratic system,” said Golden, according to Politico.

Theriault is a relatively new politician, but notably has Donald Trump’s support. Theriault was endorsed by Travis Mills and the Thomas College Republicans as well as several other local politicians and organizations. He has not spoken about the results of the presidential election. According to the Bangor Daily News, he requested a recount of votes for the U.S. House of Representatives 2nd Congressional District.

Presidential election

Donald Trump (Republican)

Donald Trump gave 306 endorsements during this election season, and was endorsed by public figures such as Elon Musk, Kid Rock and Kanye West. 

“This is no ordinary election. President Trump must win to preserve the Constitution,” Musk said at an October 2024 Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where the former president survived an assassination attempt in July. 

Kamala Harris (Democrat)

Kamala Harris has notably been endorsed by many popular public figures such as President Joe Biden, Taylor Swift, Billie Eillish and American activist Barbara Pierce Bush.

“It was inspiring to join friends and meet voters with the Harris-Walz campaign… I’m hopeful they’ll move our country forward and protect women’s rights,” Bush said in an October 2024 interview for People Magazine.  

Public reactions following the presidential election

 Public figures across the nation took to social media to declare their stances on the outcome of the election. 

“It’s a war on women,” said Billie Eillish in an Instagram story post following election night results. 

 Meanwhile, Musk expressed excitement about the outcome of the election despite a complicated history with Trump. 

“We lost this battle. The America of your dreams is calling for you to get back,” said President Biden in a speech this week. 

The presidential election results sparked intense reactions nationwide, with some celebrating and others expressing deep outrage—a predictable response given the campaign’s divisive nature.

Voters in Maine can register before Election Day via mail, in person at their local town office or even at their local polling location on Election Day. While the right to register on Election Day has been adopted in over 20 U.S. states and purported to increase youth voter turnout, the practice remains controversial given fears around voter fraud or interference. A look into the history of same-day voter registration (SDR) in Maine and arguments surrounding the practice can provide voters with insight into what style of registration best suits their needs and preferences. 

There are several registration options for those who wish to vote on Election Day. Online voting registration has closed, but Maine citizens still have the opportunity to register in person before or on Election Day. To register in person, simply print and fill out the voter registration card and turn it in at your local town office or city hall, along with an ID and proof of residency. 

SDR works similarly. A voter must still follow the same guidelines, but they are able to cast their ballot immediately after. This, however, is a controversial system. While SDR may increase voter turnout, it may also cause unintended negative effects on operation efficiency of polling places. It is important to be educated on the benefits and drawbacks of SDR in order to make an informed decision about when to register. 

Maine unanimously decided to implement SDR in 1973, but more recent arguments raised regarding the 2011 Maine Same-Day Registration Veto Referendum were largely split. Republicans worried SDR could open doors to voter fraud and result in uninformed voting. In contrast, Democrats argued that SDR does not compromise election security and that its removal would reduce voter turnout by creating additional barriers to voting.

On a national level, SDR is offered in over 20 states and Washington, D.C. The opinions of national Republican and Democratic politicians largely reflect those of local Maine Politicians. Democrats tend to be more enthusiastic about SDR than Republicans. 

A 2021 study from the Journal of Politics revealed that SDR significantly boosts turnout among young voters, who are often impacted by traditional registration laws due to their higher rates of relocation. 

SDR does not seem to affect election security or increase voter fraud because a voter cannot register without providing a valid ID and proof of residence. On the other hand, SDR may cause chaos for election officials because they are not able to properly anticipate the number of voters they will have to process. This may significantly slow down the voting process since officials could become overwhelmed. 

University of Maine Associate Political Science Professor Robert Glover offered his opinion on the matter, sharing that he is a supporter of SDR.

“In a democracy, our legitimacy depends upon as many people voting as possible, so it just makes sense to me. And Maine is proof that this can be done competently and efficiently, without any negative effects in terms of the integrity of our elections,” said Glover. “We have really remarkable state elections officials, local election clerks, and poll workers ensuring that this happens.”

Glover added that we should be thankful for the work done by poll workers. Conor Dadmun, a first-year political science major, also shared his thoughts.

“I think that if same-day voter registration allows just one person to vote who wouldn’t have otherwise, it is worth it. I think it is important that everybody be able to participate in something that will impact their lives and the future of our country and community,” said Dadmun. “I think it is especially important for younger voters who may have never registered or don’t know how.”

Election Day is fast approaching. Students are encouraged to vote if they are eligible, and to make an informed decision.

With Election Day just around the corner, politicians are working to try and win the votes of Maine citizens. There are a number of important races for federal and local offices taking place locally and nationally, and the discussion around campaign policies is intensifying as the season reaches its peak. The following is a brief guide to understanding Maine federal and local election candidate options with linked resources for more information. 

Maine U.S. Senate Race (Federal)

Angus King (Independent, incumbent), David Costello (Democrat), and Demi Kouzounas (Republican) are the leading candidates in Maine’s U.S. Senate race. 

Angus King, the incumbent Senator, is an Independent candidate who was born in Virginia, but has been a resident of Maine for approximately 55 years. He earned a juris doctor degree in law from the University of Virginia and served as the 72nd Governor of Maine. King is campaigning with policies to tackle climate change, support women’s right to choose and lower healthcare costs. He served on multiple government committees and worked to address the national drug crisis, climate change and rising costs in the economy.  

David Costello is a Democratic candidate, who was born in Bangor and raised in Old Town. He earned degrees from the University of Maine, George Washington University and the London School of Economics and Political Science. With over 25 years of senior-level governmental experience, he worked on domestic policy and international humanitarian efforts in conflict zones such as Cambodia and Kosovo. Costello’s campaign focuses on issues like climate action, healthcare reform, economic equity, gun safety and supporting education initiatives.

Demi Kouzounas, a Republican candidate from Saco, earned a doctorate degree in dentistry from Tufts University and served in the U.S. Army. Kouzounas advocates for a secure border, reduced inflation and Maine families. She dedicated much of her career to expanding access to health and dental care for low-income residents, children and migrant workers. She also co-founded “Dentists Who Care for Maine” to support rural healthcare initiatives. 

U.S. House, Maine’s 2nd Congressional District (Federal)

Jared Golden (Democrat, incumbent), Austin Theriault (Republican) and Diana Merenda (write-in candidate) are the main candidates for U.S. Representative in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District. 

Jared Golden is a Democratic candidate from Leeds who served in the Marines following the 9/11 attacks. Golden is campaigning for border security, greater education funding, and stronger labor unions. He helped create educational programs in Afghanistan and has policy experience from working with the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

Austin Theriault is a Republican candidate from Fort Kent, Maine. He drove for NASCAR but stepped away to focus on business and politics, serving as a state representative for one term. Theriault is campaigning for Maine’s lobstermen, moderation in Congress and economic initiatives to reduce energy costs. He intends to create jobs and strengthen infrastructure.

Diana Merenda is an Independent candidate from Surry, Maine. She served as a government worker for eight years and a professor at Baruch College (CUNY) for seven years. Her campaign emphasizes an anti-war stance, including opposition to the U.S. support of Israel’s actions in Gaza and calling for a redirection of military funds toward domestic needs. She also expressed views on economic policies, such as advocating for corporate tax incentives only if they directly benefit consumers by lowering costs.

Maine State Senate, District 8 (State-level)

Mike Tipping (Democrat, incumbent) and Leo C. Kenney (Republican) are the primary state candidates for Maine State Senate District 8.

Mike Tipping, the incumbent Democratic candidate, is from Orono and earned a degree in political science. Tipping is known for his work as an advocate, writer and senior strategist with the Maine People’s Alliance. His campaign focuses on issues supporting seniors, workers, unions and environmental initiatives. He has been an active voice for environmental restoration efforts, including a successful lawsuit to address mercury pollution in Maine’s Penobscot River. Tipping also campaigned for increases in Maine’s minimum wage and policies aimed at broader economic justice and public health improvements.

Leo C. Kenney is a Republican candidate from Orono, Maine. He is a small business owner. Kenney is campaigning for affordable healthcare, better education and lower energy costs. His platform includes expanding access to mental health services, promoting business-friendly policies to create local jobs and enhancing vocational programs to prepare young people for careers in technology and skilled trades. Kenney also advocates for affordable housing initiatives and energy efficiency improvements to help lower costs for Maine residents.

Maine House of Representatives, District 25 (State-level)

Laurie Osher (Democrat, incumbent) and Thomas Casey (Republican) are the primary candidates for Maine House of Representatives District 25.

Laurie Osher, the incumbent representative, is a Democratic candidate originally from Pennsylvania. She holds a Ph.D. in soil science and worked as a soil scientist, professor and business owner focused on energy efficiency. Osher’s campaign advocates for LGBTQ+ rights, tribal sovereignty, accessible healthcare and environmental protection. She worked to improve the environment, address sexual assault on college campuses and support research on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that weakens muscles and gradually impairs movement.

Thomas Casey is a Republican candidate. Available sources do not provide specific information regarding his career, platform or policy positions. He has also not responded to major voter guides or questionnaires such as those by Vote411, Ballotpedia and Bangor Daily News. 

Election day

Election day is Nov. 5. If you are an Orono resident, you can vote at the Collins Center for the Arts on Oct. 30 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. or Nov. 5 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you’re voting for the first time, you will need identification and proof of residency. You can find out more about voting in Orono here.

It is also important to note that some candidates have provided more campaign and personal information than others. Ballotpedia and this Bangor Daily News article have a more in-depth profiling of mentioned candidates if you would like more information.

Vice Presidential candidates Senator J.D. Vance and Governor Tim Walz went head-to-head on Oct. 1 to discuss how they planned to address domestic issues if their running mate is elected. The debate covered important topics that stand to impact the lives of every American including climate change, immigration and gun violence.

The moderators, Margaret Brennan and Norah O’Donnell, made it clear at the beginning of the debate that CBS News reserved the right to cut either candidate’s microphone should the discussion get out of hand. The regulations of this debate followed those of the Presidential debate. Once the question was asked, each candidate had two minutes to answer and one minute for rebuttals. 

Climate change

Following the damages of Hurricane Helene, Vance and Walz discussed climate change and their respective policies surrounding it. 

Vance called Hurricane Helene an “unbelievable, unspeakable human tragedy.” He went on to say that to slow our rapidly changing climate and reduce natural disasters such as Helene, the government must invest in American oil and green energy manufacturing as opposed to outsourcing to other countries like China. 

“We’re the cleanest economy in the entire world,” Vance said, adding that outsourcing manufacturing would have a negative impact due to China’s “dirtier” economy. He claimed that this would also help combat CO2 emissions from other countries and would strengthen the American economy. 

Walz refuted this by pointing out that the state of Minnesota typically manufactures solar panels instead of importing them. “[Climate change] roared onto the scene faster and stronger than anything we’ve seen,” said Walz. Although the production of fossil fuels has created over 200,000 jobs, green energy and fossil fuels must be used simultaneously to produce an optimal effect on the environment and the economy. 

Walz insisted that farmers are aware of climate change, having witnessed extreme droughts followed by equally extreme flooding events. He noted that many farmers support wind energy due to the severe impact climate change has had on their crops and livelihoods.

Immigration

One of America’s most hotly debated topics is immigration in relation to violence, substances and the economy. 

“Before we talk about deportations, we have to stop the bleeding. We have a historic immigration crisis because Kamala Harris said that she wanted to undo all of Donald Trump’s border policies. 94 executive orders suspending deportations, decriminalizing illegal aliens, massively increasing the asylum fraud that exists in our system, has opened the floodgates,” Vance said. “And what it means is that a lot of fentanyl is coming into our country.”

Vance claimed that the Department of Homeland Security has “effectively lost” 320,000 children due to sex and drug trafficking. He claimed children would be safer with stricter controls on the borders. He also dodged the moderator’s question about separating illegal immigrant parents from their legal American resident children. 

Walz took a different approach, in the way of pushing a bipartisan border bill.

“[We all want to solve the issue so] that’s why we had the fairest and the toughest bill on immigration that this nation’s seen. … Democrats and Republicans worked on this piece of legislation…and the Chamber of Commerce and the Wall Street Journal said pass this thing. Kamala Harris helped get there. 1,500 new border agents, detection for drugs, DOJ money to speed up the adjudications on this—just what America wants,” Walz said. 

He added that when immigration, “becomes a talking point like this, we dehumanize and villainize other human beings.” Walz referenced the Bible to say that Americans just want order and to, “keep our dignity about how we treat other people.” 

Vance responded by claiming that law enforcement simply wants to feel “empowered” by the President and to do their jobs. He also argued that schools and hospitals are “overwhelmed” due to the influx of immigrants, and that is also driving up the cost of housing.

Gun violence

In response to the ongoing trend of nationwide school shootings, the candidates debated what to do about gun violence, mental health and again, immigration.

“Now here’s something that really bothers me and worries me about this epidemic of violence: the gross majority, close to 90% in some of the statistics I’ve seen, of the gun violence in this country is committed with illegally obtained firearms,” Vance said.  “And while we’re on that topic, we know that thanks to Kamala Harris’s open border, we’ve seen a massive influx in the number of illegal guns run by the Mexican drug cartel so that number, the amount of illegal guns in our country, is higher today than it was three and a half years ago.”

He claimed that illegal immigrants and the mental health crisis are the primary sources of gun violence, opposing the claim that Walz made about guns (particularly automatic weapons) being overly accessible. Vance’s solution to the gun violence epidemic was to increase security in schools and to focus on the shootings taking place in large cities.

Meanwhile, Walz asked a question that appealed to the American pathos. 

“Do you want your schools hardened to look like a fort?” He emphasized that the Harris administration is not trying to take guns away; instead, they aim to implement stricter gun laws and ban certain automatic weapons like AR-15s. 

“There are reasonable things we can do to make a difference. It’s not infringing on your Second Amendment [rights]. And the idea to have some of these weapons out there, it just doesn’t make any sense,” said Walz.

He pointed out that Finland has a high gun ownership rate, but it doesn’t have the magnitude of school shootings we experience here–proving that it’s possible to live in a peaceful country and retain the right to bear arms. 

Vance refuted this claim by stating that America has “way higher” rates of substance abuse and mental health problems. He added that as a nation, we need to “get to the root” of the mental health crisis because it isn’t the only influence on violence, but it is a major contributor. 

Walz rebutted Vance’s point about mental health by saying that stigmatizing mental health is harmful, and not every person with a mental illness is violent. He emphasized the importance of not using mental health as a scapegoat. 

“Sometimes, it is just the guns,” Walz said. 

Closing statements

“Now I’ll have to tell you, I’m going to be careful about the quotes but there’s one that Senator Vance said that does resonate with me: he said ‘Donald Trump makes the people I care about afraid.’ A lot of America feels that way. We don’t need to be afraid. Franklin Roosevelt was right—all we have to fear is fear itself. Kamala Harris is bringing us a new way forward. She’s bringing us a politics of joy, she’s bringing real solutions for the middle class, and she’s centering you at the heart of that, all the while asking everyone, ‘join this movement, make your voices heard.’ Let’s look for a new day where everybody gets that opportunity and everybody gets a chance to thrive. I humbly ask for your vote on Nov. 5 for Kamala Harris,” Walz said.

“Now, I believe that we have the most beautiful country in the world. I meet people on the campaign trail who can’t afford food, but have the grace and generosity to ask me how I’m doing, and to tell me they’re praying for my family. What that has taught me is that we have the greatest country, the most beautiful country, the most incredible people anywhere in the world. But they’re not going to be able to achieve their full dreams with the broken leadership that we have in Washington…We need change, we need a new direction, we need a President who has already done this once before and did it well. Please vote for Donald Trump, and whether you vote for me or vote for Tim Walz, I just want to say, I’m so proud to be doing this and I’m rooting for you,” said Vance.