Gas Prices Could Cost Republicans the Midterms
The Atlantic argues that rising gas prices, exacerbated by the administration's foreign policy decisions regarding Iran, could negatively impact Republican performance in the upcoming midterm elections. The piece suggests that voters hold the president accountable for energy-related inflation.
Why it matters
Energy costs are a primary driver of voter sentiment, and this analysis highlights the intersection of geopolitical conflict and domestic electoral outcomes.
Many voters understand that the president isn’t directly responsible for the price of oil. Except this time, he is.
Illustration by Paul Spella / The Atlantic. Sources: Shutterstock; Ron Sachs / CNP / Bloomberg / Getty. September 14, 2026, 4:46 PM ET Share Save One might expect Donald Trump to be concerned about gas prices. Less than two months out from the midterms, gas costs 37 percent more than it did a year ago. Home-heating oil was up 52 percent as of August, and diesel is up a staggering 69 percent. None of those numbers are likely to go down significantly as long as the Iran war drags on. Meanwhile, just last week, a Saudi oil pipeline that carries about 4 percent of the global oil supply shut down after being bombed . (No one has claimed credit for the attack.)
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