STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Vice President JD Vance’s speech to a crowd in Sterling Heights on Monday afternoon came with a clear message for this November: “Send people of good heart [to Washington] who fight for the right people and love the United States of America.”

Vance’s appearance was designed to supercharge the Republican base, pull in disillusioned Democrats, and encourage Michigan voters to head to the polls in November, rooting for “commonsense people,” not “the crazy people” backed by the Democratic Party.

El-Sayed: An “evil” man

One of those “crazy people” Vance referenced was Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed. He referred to El-Sayed as “evil” and blasted his association with controversial political streamer Hasan Piker.

“The same guy who defends literal terrorism may not have your best interests at heart,” Vance said, referencing Piker’s past comment that “America deserved 9/11.” El-Sayed has faced pressure from Republicans and some Democrats to sever ties with Piker.

In addition, Vance compared U.S. border and road safety under President Donald Trump’s second term with conditions under the Biden administration.

“I like to think I’m a pretty good upgrade from Kamala Harris,” Vance quipped, referencing Harris’ role in the Biden administration amid record levels of illegal border crossings.

“We used to have Pete Buttigieg and now we have Sean Duffy,” Vance said, referring to the current secretary of transportation.

Keep on truckin, but only if you speak English

Duffy was in Detroit earlier Monday and announced a Trump administration crackdown on fraud and safety violations involving commercial truck drivers and training schools. Federal officials ordered the emergency shutdown of 110 truck-driving schools associated with thousands of English-proficiency violations and took action against another 160 schools for failing to meet federal training requirements. The effort is aimed at improving safety and combating fraud in the commercial trucking industry.

“Joe Biden would let anyone on the road,” Vance said. “American jobs ought to go to American workers, not foreigners.”

Vance wasn’t the only one who took the stage. He was joined at the event by GOP senate candidate Mike Rogers, 10th District GOP congressional hopeful Mike Bouchard and GOP gubernatorial candidate U.S. Rep. John James, who also appealed to Michigan moderates.

“I’m not asking you to agree with every single issue in the Republican Party platform,” Vance said. “Send a message to the leadership of the Democratic Party: Stop sending crazy people.”