JD Vance Rallies for Iowa Republicans in Council Bluffs

Vice President JD Vance headlined a Republican National Committee midterm rally on September 18, 2026, at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Vance advocated for the Trump administration's trade, tax, and immigration policies, claiming that efforts to expand global markets increased corn exports by 35 percent and secured a $17 billion commitment from China for agricultural products. He urged voters to remain patient with the administration's timeline for lowering grocery and gas prices.

During the event, Vance endorsed several candidates, including gubernatorial nominee Zach Lahn and 4th Congressional District candidate Chris McGowan. He characterized Democratic opponents as "lunatics" and "crazy," specifically attacking Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand. Vance contrasted Sand with Lahn, asserting that the choice for voters was "common sense versus crazy."

Republican Senate candidate Ashley Hinson was absent from the rally due to prior commitments, though reports suggested she sought to distance herself from unpopular beef tariffs. Following the event, President Donald Trump issued a "Complete and Total Endorsement" of Hinson while admitting the midterms would be "pretty close."

The Iowa Democratic Party and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee responded by calling the visit a sign of Republican desperation. Democratic leaders described Lahn as a political operative and argued that the rally indicated GOP candidates are in political trouble. The visit occurred amid a strained political climate in Iowa, where some Republicans have called for an end to a military conflict in Iran launched by the Trump administration.