Why it Matters

Diesel prices hit $6.50 per gallon as of last Sunday, according to AAA, squeezing rural voters, truckers, and farmers in critical swing states. Polling shows only 1 in 4 Americans now support the Iran war, with Republican voter support dropping sharply. Semafor reported that "Republicans are running away from the Iran war and scrambling to curtail high gas prices as they try to keep hold of Congress."

The Senate has one more chance to pass a war powers resolution before Election Day, and Democrats need just one more Republican vote to do so, according to Politico. A previous June vote passed 50-48, with four Republicans crossing party lines.

What They're Saying

Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson, running for Senate, said the conflict "needs to be brought to a successful and immediate end" and wrote on social media that "Iowans are being squeezed and shouldn't have to foot the bill at the pump or the checkout line for the war in Iran."

Michigan Senate candidate Mike Rogers wrote on social media: "The war in Iran needs to end to bring costs down — but Michigan families can't afford to wait." Ohio Senate candidate Jon Husted told Politico the war "needs to come to an end as quickly as possible so that we can lower gas prices."

Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters that "everybody wants to see wars come to a conclusion" and that he believed the administration was working "aggressively to make that happen." Retiring Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) was more direct: "Members are generally reflecting their base. If they really feel that way, they should say so."

At the United Nations General Assembly on Sept. 22, Trump said he faces a decision whether to "annihilate the Islamic Republic" or reach a deal; he separately confirmed that U.S. and Iranian officials held what he called a "very good meeting" on the sidelines of the UN. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) addressed the Senate floor on September 22, saying in part "on Iran and the war, only Trump could try to present himself as a peacemaker and then threaten to 'annihilate' an entire nation."

Bottom Line

Time reported that "a growing number of GOP candidates are calling for an end to the nearly seven-month-long war on the campaign trail, even in traditionally red parts of the U.S." Trump has said rising gas prices are "an inexpensive price to pay" for the Iran war.

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