Vance to headline Iowa midterm rally in Council Bluffs

Vice President JD Vance will headline a midterm rally Friday in Council Bluffs, marking his second visit to Iowa this year as Republicans defend competitive races for the chamber and the governor’s office. The visit comes as his party faces tighter-than-usual contests in a state long considered a Republican stronghold.

Council Bluffs, on the western edge of Iowa, is home to Democratic Senate nominee Josh Turek, who represents the area in the Statehouse. His Republican opponent, U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, will not attend the rally because of previously scheduled events, according to her campaign.

Zach Lahn, the Republican nominee for governor, will attend. He faces Democrat Rob Sand, the state auditor.

Vance took his first trip to the state as vice president in May, campaigning alongside U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn, one of the party’s most endangered incumbents this year.

At that event, Vance touted the administration’s tax and tariff policies at a steel manufacturing facility.

“This is not a normal election and it’s not a normal political environment,” Vance said in May.

Friday’s rally is in Iowa’s 4th Congressional District, which is being vacated by Republican U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra after his failed bid for governor. Democrat Dave Dawson and Republican Chris McGowan are vying for the seat.