Tuesday night’s presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump has come and gone.
On Wednesday’s WGN Morning News, Angelica Sanchez reported on key highlights from the debate. See the attached video to watch.
After the debate, of course, everyone rushed to their own debate: Who won between Trump and Harris?
Not that it comes as a surprise, but those already supporting one candidate over the other most likely believe their favored candidate was the winner.
WGN Political Analyst Paul Lisnek made this point in breaking down the debate on Wednesday’s Morning News. He says it won’t really make a difference to staunch Trump or staunch Harris backers. It’s the remaining undecided voters who will tilt the election.
Watch Lisnek’s breakdown on the debate below:
Meanwhile, Illinois political and party leaders reacted to the debate, and it wasn’t a surprise which direction they leaned.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, both Democrats, were predictably critical of Trump’s performance on social media during the debate and again after it.
On his personal X feed Tuesday night, Johnson posted: “The choice couldn’t be more clear. We can go backward with a habitual liar who pushes fear and division for his own gain. Or we can move forward with a qualified public servant who leads with hope and invests in the public.”
Pritzker, who’s been vocal in denouncing Trump, released the following statement after the debate:
“Tonight, Vice President Kamala Harris showed the country exactly why she will be elected the next President of the United States.
“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. 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.
“Donald Trump is a racist, misogynist, homophobe and 34-time convicted felon who can not be allowed to serve a second term. He is a pathological liar who flailed through tonight’s debate legitimizing conspiracy theories instead of telling the American people what he would do for their families. A second Trump term would be spent further eroding Americans’ rights and freedoms, gutting our middle class, and erasing the progress we’ve fought so hard to make. Donald Trump’s answers tonight may have been a rambling mess but his end goal is not — Trump is in this race only to benefit himself and his allies, and he will use every lever of government to do so.
“The American people deserve better than the disgrace that is Donald Trump. They deserve a true champion for working families. They deserve Kamala Harris.”
The Republican Party of Illinois, on the other hand, characterized Trump as a “strong leader” following the debate. Illinois GOP Chair Kathy Salvi released the following statement:
“Tonight, Americans saw a stark contrast between President Trump, a strong leader who outlined his vision to secure our border, lower prices and save our country, and Kamala Harris, who continued to lie about her record and socialist policy positions. President Trump is the leader that Illinois, and America needs and we continue to share our common sense solutions to turn Illinois around.”
In its statement following the debate, the Democratic Party of Illinois addressed the Illinois GOP directly, asking if it “agreed with Trump’s nonsense.”
DPI Chair Lisa Hernandez then issued the following statement:
“Tonight, Illinoisans saw the stark contrast between Vice President Harris’ vision for a new way forward that protects our fundamental freedoms, strengthens our democracy, and ensures every person has the opportunity to not just get by, but to get ahead — and Donald Trump’s Project 2025 agenda which will clear the path for Trump to have virtually unchecked power over our lives, to give more tax breaks to his billionaire friends at working families’ expense, gut Illinoisans’ hard-earned benefits, and ban abortion nationwide.
“Donald Trump reminds us that he’s the worst of this nation: bigoted, disgraceful, disrespectful and unwilling to actually listen — and help — working families.
“Illinois is thriving because of Democratic leadership — from boosting economic growth to protecting health care access. Yet, the Illinois GOP wants to roll back progress with outdated policies that harm middle-class families.
“The Harris-Walz ticket is our path forward. Illinois is the cornerstone of the Midwest Blue Wall — protecting freedoms, investing in communities, and standing strong for working families. Under Democratic leadership, our state is a safe haven for reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ rights and economic opportunity. The IL GOP would follow Trump’s lead and tear it all down.”
The Indiana Democratic Party also released the following statement from Chair Mike Schmuhl:
“Kamala Harris was the clear winner of tonight’s presidential debate. She was prepared. She was sharp. She called out Donald Trump. And, most importantly, she was focused on the American people.
“On policy and priorities, she laid out a clear vision for the future of America by investing in its people and its future. She will create an opportunity economy that gives everyone a chance to succeed, and she will be a commander in chief who stands with our allies and stands up to dictators.
“We have a chance in this election to move our country forward — not backwards. On that measure and so many others, there is no debate. Kamala Harris will be a president for all Americans.“
On a national level, Democratic National Committee Spokesperson Addy Toevs released the following statement:
“Tonight was a clear contrast — Donald Trump’s rambling and lies versus Vice President Harris’ positive vision for the future. Let’s be clear: Vice President Harris held Donald Trump accountable for his lies and his dangerous Project 2025 plans, and she unequivocally won this debate. She shared her vision for our country and offered the American people the choice to turn the page and reject Donald Trump’s Project 2025 agenda to implement a nationwide abortion ban, hike costs on middle-class families, and grant Trump virtually unchecked power to put himself above our constitution and control our daily lives. In contrast with Trump’s radical positions and outright lies, Vice President Harris laid out a bright vision for America’s future through her plan to protect and restore reproductive rights, lower costs at the grocery store and at the pharmacy, and safeguard our very democracy. After tonight, voters in Pennsylvania and across the country will have no doubt which candidate in this race won tonight’s debate and is fighting for them: Kamala Harris, the next President of the United States.”
On his X feed Tuesday night, Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley criticized the debate moderators for their performance, posting: “Another debate win for President Trump.
“Even in a 3 on 1 matchup, he boldly laid out his plans to restore our border, rebuild our economy, and regain our standing in the world.
“Kamala Harris didn’t give a single real answer.”