BENTON HARBOR, Mich. -- Benton Harbor Mayor Marcus Muhammad and St. Joseph Mayor Brook Thomas hosted a nonpartisan watch party for the first 2024 presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump Tuesday evening.

Holding the event at The Livery in Benton Harbor, the two mayors say the watch party was in an effort to invite public figures and the communities of their two different, but neighboring cities, to unify in a social setting, rather than divide during this political season.

“Whether you’re looking at local city problems, state problems, county problems, it takes people from all sides of the isle to work together, so I think it’s important to show that we can do that and be cordial and respectful and celebrate our differences,” said Thomas.

Muhammad went on to say they hoped to create a space, “where we can agree to disagree, but I can still respect your humanity."

The mayors also hoped the watch party would continue to join their two twin cities, saying working together is what will create a strong Southwest Michigan.

“We wanted to come together and show a united front and let people know you can vote for who you’d like, you can support who you’d like, but at the end of the day, if Southwest Michigan is going to be strong, we have to come and work together, regardless of politics,” Muhammad said.

Tuesday’s debate officially marks the 8-week countdown before the Nov. 5 election, giving voters just under two months to decide which candidate they will cast a ballot for.