Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, made headlines following Tuesday night’s CBS News Vice Presidential Debate after backing up his claims on immigration and housing costs with hard data. During the debate, Vance asserted that increased immigration had contributed to rising U.S. housing costs, a claim that CBS moderators Margaret Brennan and Norah O’Donnell attempted to challenge with an on-the-spot “fact-check.”
Vance was quick to respond to the moderators’ objections. Much like the previous ABC-hosted vice presidential debate featuring former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, this debate was also marked by contentious interruptions and fact-checks aimed primarily at Vance. Yet, after the debate concluded, Vance followed through on a promise he made on stage—providing his evidence to counter the moderators’ assertions.
On X, formerly Twitter, Vance shared direct quotes and studies to support his claim that immigration impacts housing costs. Citing Federal Reserve Board of Governors member Michelle Bowman’s speech, Vance tweeted: “Here is Michelle Bowman of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors: ‘Given the current low inventory of affordable housing, the inflow of new immigrants to some geographic areas could result in upward pressure on rents.’”
Bowman’s statement, made at the Massachusetts Bankers Association Annual Convention in May 2024, aligns with Vance’s argument that immigration is placing additional stress on the U.S. housing market, particularly in areas where housing shortages already exist.
Here are two more studies to go with it:
“Immigration inflows into a particular Metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is associated with increases in rents and with house prices in that MSA while also seeming to drive up rents and prices in neighboring MSAs.”…
— JD Vance (@JDVance) October 2, 2024
Vance didn’t stop there. He shared additional sources that provided further evidence of immigration’s influence on housing. One study, published in the Journal of Housing Economics, concluded that “immigration inflows into a particular Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) is associated with increases in rents and with house prices in that MSA.” Another report from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) echoed similar sentiments, finding that “increases in immigration raise state and local governments’ spending—particularly on education, health care, and housing—more than their revenues.”
The first study, published in the Journal of Housing Economics, found that immigration inflows into specific Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) are directly associated with increases in both rents and housing prices. The study also noted that these increases often spill over into neighboring areas, causing a broader regional effect on the housing market. The researchers argued that immigration generates new demand for housing, which leads to rising costs, especially in areas with limited housing supply.
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Additionally, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released a report highlighting the fiscal impact of immigration. It found that increased immigration raises state and local governments’ spending more than it increases revenues, particularly in areas such as education, healthcare, and housing. The report suggests that while immigration can provide certain economic benefits, it also imposes additional costs on local housing markets, straining resources in areas with already high demand.
These receipts were enough to prove that Vance’s statement had merit, despite CBS moderators’ attempts to challenge it. The larger debate, however, highlighted an ongoing frustration among Republicans with what they see as biased moderation in favor of Democratic candidates. Throughout the debate, Vance faced repeated interruptions, while his opponent, Democratic nominee Tim Walz (D-MN), seemed to field far fewer challenges.
This is not the first time Republicans have dealt with pushback during a debate. In last month’s vice presidential debate hosted by ABC, former President Trump also faced intense questioning from moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis, which many commentators labeled as overly aggressive and unfair. Tuesday’s debate on CBS followed a similar pattern, with the network’s moderators fact-checking Vance frequently, sometimes with incorrect information.
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