Vice President JD Vance called Democrats running this fall “out and out lunatics” during a midterm rally in Council Bluffs, Iowa, specifically targeting Democratic candidates like Rob Sand.
Speaking Friday, September 18, at an Iowa Republican National Committee rally, Vance spent roughly seven minutes attacking Sand, Iowa’s Democratic gubernatorial nominee, as being too far left. Sand currently leads Republican Zach Lahn 49% to 46% in a recent Emerson/Nexstar poll released earlier this month.
Vice President JD Vance accused Democratic gubernatorial nominee Rob Sand of presenting himself as a moderate while arguing that Sand has spent his career supporting liberal causes.
“He’ll say, ‘Why do we even need labels?’ That’s what he says,” Vance said. “But it’s a strange thing to complain about from a guy who has spent his entire life working for and donating to far-left, Democratic causes.”
Vance said Sand’s criticism of partisanship should instead prompt him to examine his own political record.
“If partisanship is a problem, and it is, the first place is to look in the damn mirror, Rob, because you’ve been a partisan Democrat your whole life,” Vance said.
Vance also criticized Sand over issues including transgender participation in women’s sports, abortion and the Green New Deal, using those issues to portray Sand and other Democratic candidates as politically extreme.
“The choice is this simple: It’s common sense versus crazy. It’s a man who listens to you versus a man who looks down on you,” Vance said.
The vice president further criticized some Democratic candidates running this fall, saying, “They are out-and-out lunatics. They don’t disagree with us about tax policy or regulatory policy.”
He added: “They have lost their ever-loving minds. These are the ones who will tell you that our history is evil, and this country needs to be bulldozed and started over from the beginning.”
Vance also contrasted Sand with Republican gubernatorial nominee Zach Lahn, describing Lahn as a farmer who would listen to Iowa voters and fight for them. Lahn attended the Council Bluffs rally alongside Vance.
JD Vance Targets Other Democrats Beyond Iowa
Vance expanded his remarks beyond Iowa’s gubernatorial race, criticizing Democratic Senate candidates Adam Hamilton in Kansas and James Talarico in Texas.
The comments gave Vance’s Iowa rally a broader focus on Democratic candidates running in the November midterm elections. Hamilton is the Democratic Senate nominee in Kansas, while Talarico is the Democratic Senate nominee in Texas.
Vance also urged Iowa voters to use the governor’s race to send a message to the Democratic Party.
“You have an opportunity to send not just Rob Sand but the entire Democratic Party a message,” Vance said. “Check the crazy at the door, and learn to fight for Americans for a change.”
The speech repeatedly linked Lahn to broader attacks on Democratic candidates rather than limiting Vice President JD Vance’s criticism to the gubernatorial race.
Iowa’s Senate Race Also Draws JD Vance’s Attention
Republican Senate nominee Rep. Ashley Hinson was noticeably absent from the rally, although Vance acknowledged her during his remarks.
Hinson’s campaign said before the event that she had conflicting events.
She is facing Iowa state Rep. Josh Turek, and the same Emerson/Nexstar survey showed Turek leading Hinson, 46% to 44%.
“I know she couldn’t be here today, but are we going to elect Ashley Hinson for United States senator from the great state of Iowa?” Vance asked the crowd.
Lahn, meanwhile, attended the rally with Vance.
The vice president used the event to contrast the Republican gubernatorial nominee with Sand, describing the choice facing Iowa voters in similarly stark terms.
“Are we going to send a man who fights for you, who listens to you, and cares about you?” Vance asked. “Are we going to send a man who’s been fighting to get that poison out of our food and water instead of fighting to put it in?”