Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump faced off for their third and final debate on Wednesday night — and while both candidates gave it their all, the former Secretary or State has emerged the night’s winner.

Throughout the debate, Clinton was prepared, thorough, and passionate about a variety of important issues. Her years of experience showed in the majority of her answers, and she was both specific and succinct in discussing her proposed policies and how they would affect the American people.

In one of her most notable moments of the night, Clinton also went to bat for women and abortion rights, going toe-to-toe with Trump about Roe v. Wade and stating that she would always stand in support of a woman’s right to choose.

"You should meet with the women I’ve met with; women I’ve known over the course of my life," she said. "I’ve been to countries where governments either forced women to have abortions, like they used to do in China, or forced women to bear children, like they used to do in Romania. And I can tell you the government has no business in the decisions that women make with their families in accordance with their faith, with medical advice. And I will stand up for that right."



While she was on the offense throughout the night, Clinton did not resort to mud-slinging or name-calling in the same way her opponent did — who at one point called the former Secretary of State a "nasty woman" while she was in the middle of giving one of her responses. Despite what might be considered a very bitter and personal debate, Clinton kept her composure; and overall, she appeared to be the more "presidential" candidate between the two.

Meanwhile, while Trump seemed to be more controlled and calm during this debate than in previous debates, he suffered a few missteps that voters likely won’t forget. Most notably, the Republican nominee outright refused to say that he’d accept the election’s results if he were to lose — something unprecedented in the history of the United States.

"A major party nominee suggesting he won’t concede defeat in a presidential election he has clearly lost was, until Trump came along, unthinkable," The Atlantic explains."Had Al Gore taken that position in 2000, the United States might not be a functioning democracy today. If Trump’s position becomes the new normal — if future candidates refuse to respect the voters’ will — America may not remain one. Democracies require public legitimacy for their survival. When powerful actors withhold that legitimacy, the system crumbles."

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Gina Mei I'm Gina, the night editor here at Cosmopolitan.com!

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