Trump-endorsed Michigan Senate candidate Mike Rogers is sounding the alarm over high grocery bills, record diesel prices and the financial pressure facing American families.
The former Republican congressman said this week that everyday costs remain too high and called for the war with Iran to “end quickly.” Rogers also proposed temporarily stopping American diesel exports until the conflict is over, arguing that families need relief from soaring energy costs now.
His comments put one of the biggest pocketbook issues facing voters — the cost of food, fuel and basic household expenses — at the center of Michigan’s closely watched U.S. Senate race.
Rogers Says Families Are Feeling the Squeeze
In a campaign video released this week, Rogers focused heavily on household expenses.
“Michigan families are struggling with the price of everyday life,” Rogers said. “Groceries cost too much. We have to bring prices down.”
Rogers then connected high energy costs with the ongoing war involving Iran, saying he wants the conflict brought to an end quickly.
He argued that an end to the fighting could help reduce energy prices, while saying families cannot afford to simply wait for conditions to improve.
Rogers’ comments come as several Republican candidates have increasingly emphasized fuel prices and the economic consequences of the conflict as the November midterm elections approach. Reuters reported that Rogers and Iowa Republican Senate candidate Ashley Hinson have both recently called for the war to end quickly.
Diesel Prices Reach Record Levels
The biggest concern raised by Rogers may be diesel.
The national average price for diesel reached approximately $6.53 per gallon on September 22, according to AAA figures cited in current reporting. That represented a record high.
Unlike gasoline, diesel prices can affect consumers even if they never personally drive a diesel-powered vehicle.
Diesel fuels much of America’s trucking industry. It also powers tractors, construction equipment and other machinery used throughout the economy.
When transportation expenses rise, companies can face higher costs to move food and merchandise from farms, factories and warehouses to local stores.
Those expenses can eventually put additional pressure on the prices consumers see at the checkout counter.
Global diesel supplies have become especially tight amid disruptions tied to the wars involving Iran and Ukraine. Reuters reported that U.S. diesel inventories recently fell to their lowest September level since 1982, while analysts expect tight global supplies to potentially persist into 2027.
Why Diesel Matters to Grocery Prices
Rogers highlighted that connection directly.
He noted that diesel powers trucks transporting groceries and tractors used by farmers to produce food.
Higher diesel prices can therefore increase expenses at several stages of the supply chain.
Farmers may pay more to operate equipment.
Trucking companies may face higher fuel bills while transporting products.
Distributors can spend more moving goods between warehouses and stores.
Retailers can then face higher delivery expenses.
That does not mean diesel prices alone determine grocery prices. Labor, commodity prices, weather, packaging, interest rates and other factors also influence what consumers ultimately pay.
But transportation and fuel remain important components of the overall cost of moving products through the American economy.
Rogers Calls for Temporary Diesel Export Ban
Rogers is proposing a temporary embargo on U.S. diesel exports while the Iran conflict continues.
His argument is straightforward: keeping more American-produced diesel inside the country could potentially increase domestic supplies and put downward pressure on prices.
“Until this war is over, I’m calling for a temporary embargo on American diesel exports,” Rogers said.
President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he supports the idea of banning diesel exports as fuel prices remain at record levels.
The proposal has become part of a larger debate in Washington over how the federal government should respond to unusually high fuel costs.
Supporters of export restrictions argue that American energy production should first serve domestic consumers during a period of unusually tight supply.
Critics warn that export restrictions can disrupt energy markets, alter refinery economics and produce unintended consequences.
Reuters has reported that the United States is a major diesel exporter and that U.S. refineries are already operating near very high utilization levels, limiting how quickly additional domestic supply can be produced.
Gas Taxes Are Also Under Scrutiny
Rogers has previously called for temporarily suspending state and federal gasoline taxes.
Fuel taxes are one of the most visible government costs included in every gallon purchased by motorists.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, federal taxes and fees currently total 18.4 cents per gallon for gasoline and 24.4 cents per gallon for diesel.
Those totals include federal excise taxes of 18.3 cents on gasoline and 24.3 cents on diesel, plus a 0.1-cent-per-gallon Leaking Underground Storage Tank fee.
Michigan also imposes its own motor-fuel tax.
Rogers has pointed to suspending fuel taxes as another possible way to give motorists short-term relief.
Supporters of fuel-tax holidays argue they can immediately reduce part of the cost built into every gallon.
Economists and policymakers continue to debate how much of any tax reduction ultimately reaches consumers and whether temporary suspensions create other fiscal or infrastructure consequences.
Trump Has Endorsed Rogers
President Trump has endorsed Rogers in Michigan’s 2026 U.S. Senate election.
Trump recently reiterated his support, saying Rogers has his “Complete and Total Endorsement.”
Rogers is running against Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed.
The Republican previously ran for Michigan’s open Senate seat in 2024, narrowly losing the general election to Democrat Elissa Slotkin.
This year’s race gives Rogers another opportunity to compete statewide, this time in an environment where energy prices and household expenses are playing a major role in the political debate.
Democrat Abdul El-Sayed Fires Back
El-Sayed responded sharply to Rogers’ latest video.
The Democratic candidate accused Rogers of reversing course after previously supporting the war effort.
Former Republican Rep. Justin Amash, who competed against Rogers in Michigan’s 2024 Republican Senate primary, also criticized Rogers’ latest position.
Rogers’ campaign message, however, focused primarily on the economic consequences of expensive fuel and the financial challenges facing Michigan households.
Reuters has similarly noted that Rogers previously supported Trump’s military actions involving Iran before more recently calling for the conflict to end quickly.
Cost of Living Takes Center Stage
The political argument comes against a much broader economic concern.
Diesel prices affect trucking, agriculture, construction, manufacturing and numerous other industries that Americans depend on every day.
Reuters reported that diesel prices have risen considerably faster than gasoline during the Iran conflict and estimated that diesel accounted for a substantial share of Americans’ additional spending at fuel stations during that period.
For older Americans and households living on fixed incomes, even relatively modest increases in food, transportation and utility expenses can place additional pressure on monthly budgets.
For farmers and small-business owners, fuel expenses can also directly affect operating costs.
That helps explain why diesel has moved from an issue primarily watched by truckers and commodity traders into a much broader political and economic discussion.
What Happens Next?
Rogers’ proposal will now become part of a growing debate over how the United States should respond to record diesel prices.
Some policymakers favor restrictions on fuel exports.
Others favor tax relief, increased energy production or diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing geopolitical disruptions.
Each approach carries different economic tradeoffs.
For Michigan voters, however, the underlying issue is much simpler: What will it cost to fill the tank, buy groceries and pay the household bills?
With diesel at record levels and the November election approaching, the cost of everyday life is likely to remain a prominent issue in the Michigan Senate campaign.