Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota and Sen. JD Vance of Ohio will stand behind lecterns for their debate next week, according to three people briefed on the plans, the first time since 2008 that the vice-presidential candidates have not been sitting for a debate.

The two candidates and CBS News, which is hosting the debate at its New York studios, are still in negotiations on all of the rules, but the network and the two campaigns have agreed that Walz and Vance will be standing, according to the three people, who insisted on anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the preparations.

The rules are expected to be broadly similar to those for the presidential debate two weeks ago between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.

The last time presidential running mates stood for a debate was when Joe Biden, then a Delaware senator, and Sarah Palin, then the Alaska governor, met in St. Louis in 2008. Nearly 70 million people tuned in to that debate, the most-watched vice-presidential clash in history. Four years ago, 58 million people watched Harris debate Vice President Mike Pence.

For most political candidates, it is not generally considered a matter of great consequence whether they sit or stand for a debate, barring physical limitations or a significant height disparity. Walz stands just under 6 feet tall, and Vance is about 6 feet tall.

Debate prep

Walz has been studying for the debate in Minneapolis and in between campaign stops. Pete Buttigieg, the transportation secretary who is playing Vance in mock sessions, has been traveling back and forth to Minneapolis to take part in the debate preparations along with participating via videoconference.

The Minnesota governor and his debate team will decamp later this week to Harbor Springs, Mich., a tiny bayside community on Lake Michigan four hours north of Detroit by car, the people briefed on the debate plans said. There, his aides will arrange a multiday debate camp over the weekend where Walz and Buttigieg will conduct a series of dress rehearsals complete with lecterns, mock moderators and television-style lighting.

Vance is having Rep. Tom Emmer of Minnesota play Walz in his debate preparations, which have taken place at the Ohio senator’s Cincinnati home and in videoconferences online. Vance has also held frequent question-and-answer sessions with journalists who travel with him, and has sat for far more interviews than Walz has since the two men joined their presidential tickets.

How to watch

The debate is scheduled for 8 p.m. CT next Tuesday. It is expected to last 90 minutes.

CBS News will broadcast the debate in its entirety and stream it on CBS News 24/7 and Paramount+. Other television networks will be able to carry a simulcast of the event.

The event will be moderated by Norah O’Donnell, anchor of “CBS Evening News,” and Margaret Brennan, who moderates CBS’ weekend show “Face the Nation.”