'Out and out lunatics': JD Vance unloads on Democrats running this fall

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA: Vice President JD Vance called Democrats running this fall “out and out lunatics” at a rally, targeting Rob Sand and other candidates as too far left.

Sand, Iowa's Democratic gubernatorial nominee, is leading Republican Zach Lahn 49% to 46% in an Emerson/Nexstar poll released earlier this month.

Vance made the remarks Friday, September 18, during a roughly seven-minute attack on Sand at the Iowa Republican National Committee’s midterm rally in Council Bluffs.

JD Vance frames Iowa race as common sense versus crazy

Vance accused Sand of presenting himself as a moderate while arguing that the Democrat 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 complaints about 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 attacked Sand over transgender people in women's sports, abortion, and the Green New Deal, using those issues to portray Sand and other Democratic candidates as 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 said that some of the Democrats running this fall, "they are out and out lunatics. They don't disagree with us about tax policy or regulatory policy.” 

He then 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.”

He also contrasted Sand with Lahn, describing the Republican candidate as a farmer who would listen to Iowa voters and fight for them.

JD Vance targets other Democrats beyond Iowa

Vance expanded his attacks beyond the Iowa governor's race, calling out Democratic Senate candidates Adam Hamilton in Kansas and James Talarico in Texas.

The remarks came as the polls show a tightening Senate race in Kansas, giving Vance's rally a broader focus on Democratic candidates running in November.

Vance also urged Iowa voters to send a message to the Democratic Party through the governor's race.

“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 paired Sand with broader attacks on Democratic candidates rather than limiting Vance's criticism to the gubernatorial contest.

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 for 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?”