Vance Keynotes GOP Midterm Convention as 2028 Buzz Builds

DALLAS - Vice President JD Vance delivered a combative keynote address on Thursday night, September 10, closing the Republican Party's first-ever midterm convention at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, as the party works to protect its narrow House and Senate majorities in the November elections. Vance's roughly 40-minute speech attacked Democrats as what he called the party of hatred, defended the administration's record on the border, crime and the economy, and made a direct appeal to young men and undecided voters. He targeted Michigan Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed over a social media post Vance said implied his late grandfather could not have loved his wife, Usha, who is Indian American and was raised in a Hindu household. El-Sayed has called the accusation a dog whistle. Vance also criticized Texas Senate candidate James Talarico over transgender issues; Talarico's campaign was contacted for comment and no response was reported. The most widely noted moment came when a protester waving a Mexican flag interrupted the speech. Security removed the man, and Vance told the crowd, "If you love Mexico so much, get your ass over there.