On May 5, Vice President JD Vance made an appearance in Iowa, during which he unintentionally drew attention to his own disarray while speaking at a rally supporting Republican Representative Zach Nunn. Vance’s struggle became evident when he forgot the name of Nunn’s Democratic challenger, Sarah Trone Garriott, and even admitted, “I don’t know anything about her.” This moment of forgetfulness occurred as tensions escalate in Nunn’s reelection campaign, which is anticipated to be one of the most closely contested House races in the upcoming midterm elections.
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The vice president’s visit to Des Moines marked his first official appearance in Iowa since taking on his role. Speaking to a crowd gathered at a steel manufacturing facility, Vance warned attendees that the current political climate is unprecedented and called for heightened engagement within the Republican Party. With Iowa playing a crucial role in early presidential primaries, Vance’s presence was emblematic of the party’s preparations for the 2028 election cycle.
During his half-hour speech, Vance repeatedly flipped through his notes in an attempt to find Garriott’s name, which he intended to use as a point of criticism against her. At one juncture, the vice president paused for 20 seconds in silence while searching for her name before finally calling for assistance from Nunn, who was present off-stage. The moment drew a chuckle from the crowd, which seemed to find amusement in Vance’s struggle.
“I was flipping around in my notes because I’ve been trying to find the name of the person that Zach is running against because we’re gonna, we’re gonna make fun of her a little bit,” he stated after admitting his lapses. Despite claiming ignorance about the Democratic challenger, Vance did attempt to critique her voting record, asserting that her priorities do not align with those of the constituents or the district.
As Vance continued his speech, he focused on contrasting Nunn’s efforts to promote the year-round sale of E15 fuel, a corn-based ethanol blend, against what he characterised as Garriott’s focus on issues unrelated to economic concerns, such as gender identity and public education policies. The attendees responded with boos when Garriott’s name was mentioned, revealing the partisan atmosphere of the event.
In response to Vance’s remarks, Garriott shared her thoughts through a social media video, mocking the vice president’s stumble and refuting his characterisation of her platform. She took the opportunity to challenge both Vance and Nunn, suggesting that the latter aligns himself too closely with Washington insiders and pointing out his controversial past votes that have negatively impacted rural healthcare facilities.
Vance’s visit to Iowa was part of a broader campaign trip, which included stops in Cincinnati and Oklahoma City. Earlier that day in Cincinnati, he had brought along his son to participate in local Republican primaries where Vivek Ramaswamy, a Trump ally, secured the GOP nomination for governor.
In Oklahoma City, Vance attended a Republican National Committee fundraiser alongside various prominent figures in the party, including Oklahoma Senator James Lankford and agricultural sector representatives. This outreach signifies a concerted effort within the GOP to solidify support ahead of the upcoming elections.
Throughout the rally, Nunn spoke of his bipartisan efforts while simultaneously celebrating Vance’s attendance, hoping to leverage the vice president’s influence in what promises to be a competitive electoral battle. “Not only is the vice president for Donald Trump and the wingman for the next two years, he’s a man who’s leading the charge to win this midterm,” Nunn declared, seeking to instil confidence in his campaign among voters.
As the midterm elections approach, the dynamic between Vance, Nunn, and their Democratic opponents illustrates the growing intensity of political rivalries, particularly in states like Iowa that are crucial for both party strategies leading into future elections. The rally, despite Vance’s moment of confusion, underscores the importance of candidate visibility and the ongoing battle for voter support in a changing political landscape.