Republican candidates who supported the Iran war are moving quickly to show they hear voters’ complaints about high fuel and grocery prices tied to the conflict — proposing a gas tax suspension and a temporary halt to diesel exports as the midterm elections near.
In Michigan, former Rep. Mike Rogers is calling for the conflict to end and for immediate steps to ease costs. His new ad, filmed in a grocery store, leans directly into the economic strain families are feeling.
“Michigan families are struggling with the price of everyday life. Groceries cost too much. We have to bring prices down,” Mr. Rogers says in the spot released this week. “The war with Iran needs to end and end quickly. When it does, energy costs will plummet.”
He notes that he has “previously called for the suspension of the state and federal gas tax, 70 cents a gallon” and now is adding a diesel-focused proposal aimed at the trucks and tractors that keep food moving.
“So until this war is over, I’m calling for a temporary embargo on American diesel exports,” he says in the ad. “Keep more American diesel here at home. Increase the supply available to our farmers, our truckers, and put downward pressure on diesel prices.”
Mr. Rogers is running for the seat being vacated by Sen. Gary Peters and is facing Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, who has spent months hammering the war and arguing that his Republican opponent would be a rubber stamp for the Trump agenda.
In Iowa, Rep. Ashley Hinson rolled out a similar message, framing the war as a direct hit on household budgets as she campaigns to succeed retiring Sen. Joni Ernst and defeat Democratic state Rep. Josh Turek.
“Iowans are being squeezed and shouldn’t have to foot the bill at the pump or the checkout line for the war in Iran,” Ms. Hinson posted Monday on X. “We need to use every option at our disposal to provide some relief from high prices.”
Her list goes further than Mr. Rogers’, calling for suspending the gas tax, pausing diesel exports, “unleashing E-15 everywhere we can,” reinstating the $1-a-gallon biodiesel tax credit and creating a diesel relief program for farmers and truckers.
She also says any gas tax suspension should be paired with steps to replenish the Highway Trust Fund “so that Iowans don’t suffer from crumbling roads and bridges while relief comes our way now.”
“These actions to lower costs are needed ASAP, and the war needs to be brought to a successful and immediate end,” Ms. Hinson posted, adding that she is “working every day to deliver bipartisan results for Iowans.”
The elections in Michigan and Iowa are rated toss-ups by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report — two of just seven Senate contests in that category. With Republicans holding a narrow 53-47 Senate majority, the outcomes will help determine whether the GOP keeps control of the chamber for the final two years of President Trump’s term.
Their push echoes comments from Sen. Charles E. Grassley, Iowa Republican and the longest-serving current member of the Senate. Over the weekend, he posted: “W diesel $6.57 in Iowa why doesn’t Pres Trump put an embargo on diesel exports like presidents in the 70s put embargoes on ag products bc food prices were inflated. High diesel prices ARE KILLING FARMERS INCOME.”
Fuel prices have jumped sharply since Iran moved to close traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for roughly a fifth of the world’s oil. The national average for regular gasoline hit $4.48 a gallon Monday — more than a dollar higher than a year ago, according to the AAA motor club — while diesel reached a record $6.51 a gallon.
A diesel-export restriction could likely be imposed through executive action. Suspending the federal gas tax, however, would require Congress — a tough lift after House Speaker Mike Johnson sent members home last week for a recess that will keep them out of Washington until after the midterms.
Mr. Trump, meanwhile, has predicted the war will likely end after the election and that prices will then start to fall.
He has accused Tehran of dragging out the conflict to hurt Republicans at the polls and defended the war’s cost as necessary to keep Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
“It’s a very inexpensive price to pay for what we’ve done,” Mr. Trump said during a recent campaign swing through North Carolina.
Vice President J.D. Vance told reporters this week the administration is “doing everything that we can” to reduce prices and “give the American people some relief in the interim,” saying states could reduce gas taxes.
Democrats say the new proposals from Mr. Rogers and Ms. Hinson amount to election-year posturing, reminding voters that both Republicans supported the military effort.
Mr. El-Sayed accused Mr. Rogers of flip-flopping “because gas hit $5 a gallon and diesel prices hit record highs,” while Mr. Turek noted that Ms. Hinson has voted against war powers resolutions aimed at curbing Mr. Trump’s authority to continue the conflict, including one last week.
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