Vance calls midterms a referendum on ‘common sense versus pure unadulterated crazy'

Republican JD Vance Stirs Debate on Midterm Stakes at Iowa Rally

Former U.S. Representative and Ohio Republican JD Vance delivered a fiery address in Iowa on Friday as part of his mid‑term campaign. Vance, who is seeking the U.S. Senate seat in Ohio, used the occasion to criticize the Democratic Party and to highlight his own brand of conservative “common sense.”

At the rally, Vance framed the midterm election as a referendum between “common sense versus pure unadulterated crazy.” He compared the present‑day Democrats to what he said were “the party my grandparents grew up talking about,” and referenced his father’s upbringing as a union steelworker to underscore his family’s historical ties to the Democratic Party’s labor roots. “FDR’s Democrat party, that JFK’s Democrat party was the party of the working man,” he said. “This is not FDR’s party, as much as we might wish it was. It’s not JFK’s party. Ladies and gentlemen, it’s not even Bill Clinton’s party.”

Vance went on to criticize Democrats he said are pushing for an “utterly transformed” America. He cited a New York candidate who, according to Vance, had called for “the total eradication of Western civilization” and even claimed “the July Fourth is actually about the liberation of Palestine and Puerto Rico.” Vance laughed derisively at the claim, adding that “you could almost laugh about” the idea of Thomas Jefferson writing the Declaration of Independence while also thinking about Palestine and Puerto Rico.

Vance accused some Democrats of being “out‑and‑out lunatics” who have “lost their ever‑loving minds.” He said, “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 went on to say that other Democratic candidates are “smart enough to realize that the country hasn’t lost its mind, and so they try to be just a little bit more subtle.”

In particular, Vance targeted Democrat U.S. Senate candidate Adam Hamilton of Kansas. “Adam Hamilton gives off a kind of ‘gee whiz, I’m a nice pastor’ vibe,” Vance said. “But he tells his congregation not about the gospel of Jesus Christ, but that they need to repent for their white privilege.” Vance noted that recent polls show a tightening race between Hamilton and Republican incumbent Kansas Senator Roger Marshall.

The Iowa event also served as a platform for Vance to show support for local Republican candidates. He praised gubernatorial nominee Zach Lane, Representative Ashley Hinson, and congressional hopeful Chris McGowan, urging voters to back their “common‑sense” policies.

The rally was attended by a mix of party loyalists and undecided voters, and Vance’s rhetoric sparked both cheers and boos. As the 2024 midterms approach, his remarks highlight the sharp divisions between the parties and the high stakes he believes the election carries for the future direction of the country.