Pizza and politics: Bellingham locals react to the Oct. 1 vice presidential debate
It was 6 p.m. on a crisp October evening in Bellingham, as a young married couple sat against the back green wall of Bella Ciao Pizza Tavern on Railroad Avenue. Alit blue from the neon glow of a Seattle Kraken sign above, they sipped from their drinks with eyes fixated on the first and only 2024 vice presidential debate between Ohio Sen. JD Vance and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
The tavern drew a diverse crowd, ranging from their early 20s to late 50s, with varying levels of interest in the debate. Some patrons had stumbled upon it by chance, while others had intentionally carved out time to watch it. Regardless of their initial intent, many people stayed glued to the TVs for the 90-minute CBS broadcast, as candidates addressed buzzword issues like foreign policy, threats to democracy, reproductive rights, immigration and housing.
Shifting lines, losing rights
Alina, a Canadian citizen, had driven down to visit her husband Sam, when they decided to stop at the tavern to watch the debate. She expressed concern about the impact of U.S. politics on the Canadian government if Trump were re-elected, sharing that if she could vote, she’d support Harris.
“I just don’t have much faith that anything good will come from either government,” Alina said.
The couple shared that due to U.S. laws regarding women’s rights and other political policies, they’d decided that Sam would soon join Alina in Canada.
“I’m not moving to the U.S. where when I step foot in the country I lose rights over my body,” Alina said.
By the end of the night, the couple expressed their frustrations regarding shifting political lines and the candidate options.
“The left doesn’t even exist anymore — this election has ruined it,” Sam said. “We both feel that this election is just delaying fascism for a couple of years.”
Across from the couple, cheers erupted and smiles emerged at the bar as strangers bonded over Gov. Walz’s rebuttal to Sen. Vance’s pro-life statement.
“We’re pro-women. We’re pro-freedom to make your own choice,” Gov. Walz said.
Doubts about democracy, as a generation struggles
A couple of tables over, Aaron Ostrom sat in the corner of the tavern. He hadn’t planned to watch the debate and admitted he’d been avoiding political news for his mental health since the 2020 election. Feeling overlooked by the candidates, Ostrom shared his frustration with student loan debt and Bellingham’s housing crisis.
“Paying my loans off has been detrimental — not to mention the housing crisis on top of that,” Ostrum said. “It’s gotten to the point where our predecessors’ living conditions don’t exist anymore.”
Ostrum shared that despite making six figures and having a partner, he doesn’t feel financially stable enough to start a family in Bellingham due to the current political climate — a feeling shared by many of his peers.
“My entire generation of millennials don’t feel like we can have kids anymore,” Ostrum said. “It’s not a democracy anymore and I’m honestly a little terrified of how the election is gonna go based on the last.”
The candidates addressed the current nationwide affordable housing crisis with Vance echoing Trump’s messaging around increasing American energy production and building new homes on federal land. On the other side, Walz described Minnesota’s housing affordability successes as a blueprint for the nation.
Articulate … but truthful?
Molly Westring reflected the sentiments of many patrons at the tavern when she reluctantly admitted that Vance sounded much more well-prepared than she was anticipating.
“Vance sounds a lot more articulate than I expected,” Westring said. “Although, I can’t imagine what he’s saying is true.”
Between bites of a veggie-piled pizza, Westring recalled the morning after the 2020 election, when her partner said in shock, “He won.” Unable to believe the news, Westring scoffed and dismissed the comment, replying, “Shut up,” only to spend the rest of the day in disbelief.
“I want Harris to win by a landslide so [Trump] doesn’t have any traction to claim otherwise,” Westring said.
— By Sophie Cadran