# Vance Calls Democrats 'Lunatics' as Iowa Turns Competitive

- URL: https://twotakes.us/stories/vance-calls-democrats-lunatics-as-iowa-turns-competitive
- Published: 2026-09-19T19:04:40.920923+00:00
- Topics: midterms-2026, jd-vance, iowa, democratic-party, campaign-rhetoric

## What the left says
- Vance's rhetoric nationalizes local races, framing Iowa Democrats like gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand through the actions of unrelated candidates in New York and elsewhere, even as Iowa Democrats have deliberately focused on local issues.
- Labeling political opponents 'lunatics' and claiming they want to 'bulldoze' the country escalates divisive rhetoric rather than engaging with substantive policy differences.
- Vance's visit signals underlying anxiety within the GOP, since Iowa—a former Republican stronghold—now hosts genuinely competitive Senate and governor's races.
- The trip also reflects Vance's own political positioning, given Iowa's importance as the first 2028 Republican nominating contest.

## What the right says
- Vance argues that today's Democratic Party has drifted far from the working-class roots it once had under FDR, JFK, and even Bill Clinton, no longer representing the common man.
- He points to specific examples, like a New York congressional candidate's comments tying July Fourth to the liberation of Palestine and Puerto Rico, as evidence that some Democrats hold views far outside mainstream American values.
- Vance frames the midterms as a choice between common-sense governance and a radical agenda that seeks to portray American history as fundamentally evil and in need of being 'started over.'
- He also criticizes Democrats on practical policy grounds, arguing they can't be trusted to protect farmland, cut taxes, or secure the border.

## Common ground
- Iowa has emerged as a genuinely competitive battleground for both the Senate and governor's races this cycle, a shift from its former reliably Republican status.
- Vance's Council Bluffs rally marks his second visit to Iowa this election cycle, underscoring the state's political importance.
- Iowa's Democratic gubernatorial nominee, Rob Sand, is a central figure in the race, with his political identity and record being actively debated.
- Iowa holds early significance in the 2028 Republican presidential nominating process, giving Vance's visits added political weight beyond the midterms.

## Sources
- [Fox News](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/vance-calls-midterms-referendum-common-sense-versus-pure-unadulterated-crazy) (Right)
- [PBS NewsHour](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-live-vance-speaks-at-rally-in-iowa-as-competitive-midterm-races-heat-up) (Lean Left)
- [Newsmax](https://www.newsmax.com/politics/jd-vance-iowa-republicans/2026/09/18/id/1269889) (Right)
- [The Hill](https://thehill.com/video-clips/6098126-watch-live-jd-vance-gop-midterms-iowa/) (Center)
- [Washington Times](https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/sep/18/jd-vance-stumps-iowa-gop-faces-close-races-unlikely-places/) (Right)
- [Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/09/18/vance-campaigns-deep-red-part-iowa-highlighting-risks-gop/) (Lean Left)

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