Republicans weigh Iran war's impact on midterm prospects
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As the Iran conflict enters its sixth month, GOP lawmakers balance support for President Trump with voter concerns over rising gas prices and economic strain ahead of the 2024 midterm elections.
Republican officials are feeling pressure as the war with Iran drags on, with polls showing the conflict is unpopular among voters and could jeopardise the party's chances in the upcoming midterms. In competitive House and Senate races, many GOP candidates continue to back President Donald Trump, arguing that national security outweighs short-term economic pain.
"Let's deal with this now, and let's get it done," said Rep. Zach Nunn of Iowa, a veteran of Afghanistan and Iraq, contrasting his stance with Democrats, whom he accused of wanting to "just give up."
Republican strategist Barrett Marson described the dilemma as a "balancing act on the thinnest of wires," noting that only one person – Trump – appears indifferent to gas prices but heavily influences the party's fate.
Sen. Jim Justice of West Virginia called the war a "mess" and urged Republicans to be more attuned to voters' economic concerns, saying, "You people are living in a cave if you don’t see that the folks out there are hurting."
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Trump ally, linked the conflict to higher gas prices but expressed optimism that a new phase of the war could bring prices down.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll released Monday found that only three in ten voters approved of Trump's handling of the Iran situation, giving Democrats an opening to make the war a central campaign issue. Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff criticised Trump for misleading the nation about the conflict.
Attack ads from groups such as VoteVets have targeted Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan, blaming him for high gasoline costs in Alaska. Sullivan's office defended his vote, saying he supported decisive action to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon and to protect global energy markets.
A few vulnerable House Republicans, including Reps. Tom Barrett and Brian Fitzpatrick, have voted to limit Trump's war powers, but most GOP colleagues continue to endorse the military campaign. Rep. Jen Kiggans said she wants a "quick resolution" but still supports the president's objectives to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and to keep the Strait of Hormuz open.
The National Republican Congressional Committee framed the election as a choice between Republicans focused on disarming Iran and Democrats accused of funding the regime, while the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee warned that Republicans are "blindly following Donald Trump's ego" and risk losing their majority.