Senate Majority Leader John Thune is warning that the war with Iran and rising fuel costs have become major concerns for voters just weeks before the November midterm elections.
The South Dakota Republican made the comments Monday during an appearance on Fox News’ “America’s Newsroom,” where he was asked about the political environment facing GOP candidates.
Thune said affordability remains one of the biggest issues, particularly in Midwestern states where families, farmers and businesses are feeling the impact of higher fuel prices.
“Well, right now, the races are — it’s more about — it’s, you know, it is affordability issues, it’s the price of diesel in places like Iowa and Kansas and Nebraska and the Midwest, Minnesota,” Thune said.
He then acknowledged just how much the conflict with Iran has changed the political conversation.
“And what’s happening, Iran has sort of trumped everything else that’s going on,” Thune added.
Thune Puts Fuel Prices in the Spotlight
Thune’s comments are especially significant because high gasoline and diesel prices are affecting Americans across the country.
AAA reported that the national average price for regular gasoline stood at approximately $4.48 per gallon on September 28, compared with about $3.13 one year earlier.
Diesel averaged approximately $6.45 per gallon, compared with roughly $3.69 a year earlier.
Those numbers can have consequences well beyond the gas station.
Diesel is essential for trucking, farming, construction and other industries that move goods across the country. When transportation expenses rise, businesses can face higher operating costs that may eventually be reflected in consumer prices.
That makes energy costs a potentially important kitchen-table issue heading into Election Day.
Iran War Becomes a Midterm Issue
The continuing conflict with Iran has added another layer of uncertainty for Republican candidates trying to keep voters focused on domestic priorities.
Energy markets have been particularly sensitive to disruptions involving the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping route for global oil supplies.
AAA has previously cited fighting in the Middle East and disruptions to shipping through the strait as major factors affecting crude oil and gasoline prices.
For Thune, that means foreign policy and household economics are increasingly connected.
His remarks suggest Republican leaders understand that many voters may evaluate the Iran conflict not only as a national-security issue, but also through its effect on their personal finances.
New Poll Raises Economic Warning Signs
The political challenge is compounded by recent polling on President Donald Trump’s handling of the economy.
A Wall Street Journal survey conducted September 16-21 among 1,500 registered voters found that 60 percent said Trump’s policies had made the economy worse, while 25 percent said they had improved it and 10 percent said they had made no difference.
The same poll placed Trump’s overall job approval at 37 percent. The survey had a reported margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.
Polls represent a snapshot of voter opinion rather than an election result, but numbers like these help explain why Republican leaders are emphasizing affordability as the campaign enters its final stretch.
Democrats Target Trump Over Iran
Democrats are also trying to make the Iran war a central part of their argument against the administration.
Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona criticized Trump’s handling of the conflict during an appearance Sunday on ABC News’ “This Week.”
Kelly argued that the president entered the war without what he considered a sufficient long-term strategy or exit plan.
“The president got into this without a strategic goal, without a plan, without a timeline, without an exit strategy,” Kelly said, before arguing that Trump is now “stuck.”
Kelly’s remarks represent the Democratic senator’s assessment of the administration’s strategy rather than an established factual conclusion. His interview aired September 27.
The Trump administration has defended its approach to Iran on national-security grounds and has maintained that preventing Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon remains a major U.S. objective.
Republicans Confront a Difficult Closing Stretch
For Republicans, the challenge now is to persuade voters that their broader economic and national-security agenda is moving the country in the right direction despite continuing frustration over prices.
Thune’s comments show that GOP leaders are closely watching fuel costs and affordability as the midterms draw closer.
The issue is especially important in agricultural and rural areas, where diesel prices can directly affect farmers, truckers and small businesses.
At the same time, Democrats are attempting to tie the economic consequences of the Iran conflict directly to Trump and Republican leadership.
That sets up a major debate heading into November: whether voters primarily view higher energy costs as an unavoidable consequence of international instability or as a reflection of decisions made in Washington.
Whatever conclusion voters reach, Thune’s remarks make one thing clear — Republicans know that Iran, gas prices and the cost of living have become difficult issues to ignore in the final weeks before Election Day.