Vance takes aim at soft-on-crime Dems as GOP faces uphill midterm battle: ‘Lost their minds’

EXCLUSIVE: TYLER, Texas — Faced with an uphill battle in November's midterms as costs soar for Americans, Vice President JD Vance is making a pitch that the alternative is not better — and argues that Democrats would only make existing problems like street crime worse.

"It sort of drives home how the Democrats have kind of lost their minds," Vance told Fox News Digital on Tuesday when asked about a recent rash of Somali gang violence in Minnesota.

"And if you elect Democrats, you're fundamentally electing people who will invite criminals into your state, into your communities and make your communities less safe," he added in discussing the upcoming duel for control of Congress.

In typically-blue Minnesota, Democratic Lt.

Gov.

Peggy Flanagan is vying for a seat in the U.S.

Senate, but facing a tough challenge from Republican Michele Tafoya.

100-SHOT SOMALI GANG GUN BATTLE ROCKS MINNESOTA AS SHERIFF WARNS 'WE'RE IN TROUBLE' "If you elect Republicans, you may not agree with us on everything, but we agree on some basic principles," Vance continued.

"Like, for example, everybody should be safe, everybody should be secure in their communities — and we don't want let violent criminals come into our country." "So, I do think that contrast is driven a little bit more starkly given what's happening in Minnesota." Fox News Digital spoke with the vice president after a campaign rally in the town of Tyler, Texas, about 100 miles east of Dallas, on Tuesday.

There, Vance rallied for Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton who is also in a tight U.S.

Senate race with Democrat state Rep.

James Talarico .

FOX NEWS POLL: IT’S A LONE STAR SENATE SHOWDOWN BETWEEN TALARICO AND PAXTON The progressive candidate recently returned from a two-week campaign absence, which Vance described as "odd." "How old is he? Thirty-five? Forty?" Vance questioned of Talarico.

"You've got to have the energy to do the job, and taking two weeks off the campaign in October — that's the meat of the campaign — I just think it's a very, very bizarre thing." The vice president added that he hopes Talarico's health is okay, but that Texans must weigh whether he has the energy to do the job as a U.S.