Trump and Harris Return to Philadelphia. This Time, For Their First Presidential Debate

After much back and forth, the Presidential debate schedule is finally set with the first of these debates happening September 10th here in Philadelphia. The debate will take place at the National Constitution Center and is slated to air at 9pm.

It is worth noting that the last Presidential debate in Philadelphia was in 1976 when Jimmy Carter debated Gerald Ford at the Walnut Street Theatre. While there have been plenty of Presidential visits, town halls, Vice Presidential debates, and even campaign primary debates, the last Presidential debate held in the City of Brotherly Love was almost 50 years ago.

While Philadelphia has consistently played a key role in National elections, this election season feels different. This season feels like Philly is in sharper view. In just this election season, Philadelphia has seen multiple visits from both Presidential candidates as well as their Vice Presidential Candidates.

Former President Donald Trump visited Philadelphia for SneakerCon in February of this year and hosted a rally in June at the Liacouras Center on Temple University's Campus.

Vice President Harris visited Philadelphia in July for a Town Hall, originally as a Vice Presidential candidate. She launched her campaign for the Presidency with a rally in the City of Brotherly Love, also visiting the Liacouras Center, in August.

Both current Vice Presidential candidates, Republican J.D. Vance and Democrat Tim Walz made their visits to the City of Brotherly Love on the same day. While Vance held an intimate rally in South Philadelphia, Walz was officially introduced as Vice President Harris’s running mate at Temple’s Liacouras Center.

The return of Vice President Harris and Former President Trump to Philadelphia for their first of two debates, after both have already visited the city several times each is another reminder for the vital role Philly has historically played and might play in the upcoming election.

It is a reminder that how the City of Brotherly Love, the birthplace of American Democracy, votes has a heavy sway on how Pennsylvania, with its 19 electoral votes, will go. It is a reminder that an estimated one out of every three votes cast in the battleground state of Pennsylvania comes from Philadelphia and its surrounding counties. It is a reminder that during the last election, Philadelphia had its largest voter turnout in the city’s history.

Back to the first Presidential Debate between Trump and Harris, if September 10th sounds familiar, it is the same date that President Biden, then Presidential nominee, and Former President Trump scheduled as their final debate. Now, after a unique set of circumstances over the past few weeks, Trump will debate Vice President Harris, the now Democratic nominee for President on that very day.

The debate airs live on September 10th on ABC News at 9pm EDT.