Us Election: Us Presidential Debate Clinton vs. Trump

The first presidential debate of the 2016 U.S. election season kicks off Monday night.

It's a one-on-one match-up between Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican candidate Donald Trump. The two candidates vying to follow President Barack Obama are close in the polls, which emphasizes the high stakes for this contest.

Here's what you need to know about the presidential debates.

Monday, September 26 is the first of three debates between Clinton and Trump, and there is one debate between their running mates, Tim Kaine and Mike Pence. Monday's venue is Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y.

The second debate is on Oct. 9 at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo., and the finale is on Oct. 19, at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas.

The vice-presidential debate is on Oct. 4 at Longwood University in Farmville, Va.