In September, we noted the budding debate in the 2024 presidential election over whether the government should respect free speech for all or put its thumb on the scale to achieve desired outcomes. At last week’s vice presidential debate, Republican VP nominee and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance emphatically chose the side of free speech.

Vance called for Democrats and Republicans to come together to reject censorship and the weaponization of government against Americans for expressing their views about politics. He slammed Democratic nominee Kamala Harris and VP candidate Tim Walz for misstating the scope of the First Amendment’s protections and for pressuring social media companies to ban users who disputed the government’s positions on COVID-19. On other occasions, Harris and Walz have supported policies that would expose Americans to harassment and retaliation for joining or donating to conservative nonprofit organizations.

Vance noted that, in failing to uphold free speech, Democratic leaders are creating a threat to democracy that will haunt us for generations.

Vance: “But you guys attack us for not believing in democracy. The most sacred right under the United States’ democracy is the First Amendment. You yourself have said there’s no First Amendment right to misinformation.”

Walz: “Or threatening, or hate speech.”

Vance: “Kamala Harris wants to use the power of government and big tech to silence people from speaking their minds. That is a threat to democracy that will long outlive this present political moment. I would like Democrats and Republicans to both reject censorship. Let’s persuade one another. Let’s argue about ideas, and then let’s come together afterwards.”

Walz: “You can’t yell fire in a crowded theater. That’s the test. That’s the Supreme Court test.”

Vance: “Tim. Fire in a crowded theater? You guys wanted to kick people off of Facebook for saying that toddlers should not wear masks… That’s not fire in a crowded theater. That is criticizing the policies of the government, which is the right of every American.”

Vance’s comments display an understanding of the enormity of threats to free speech in our current climate. Changes in technology, culture, and the law have allowed would-be censors from both parties to wrap their hands around new levers of power to suppress speech both online and in the physical world. Political leaders must be able to recognize and call out this dangerous trend to have any hope of stopping (and ultimately reversing) its course.

In a debate that ranged across many urgent topics, from immigration to abortion to housing and beyond, it was good to see the candidates address free speech and government weaponization.

Whoever wins in November, the rights of the American people to form, join, and support groups that share their beliefs – and to do so privately, if they so choose – is critical to making our government function. That’s been the case from the Founding era to modern day. Americans must demand that all of our representatives in government, regardless of their party, respect our First Amendment rights and allow “we the people” to speak our minds freely and fearlessly.