Gas Prices Near $4.29 as Iran War and Midterms Test Republicans and Trump

Gasoline prices averaged about $4.29 a gallon as of Monday, roughly $1.23 higher than a year earlier, as Republicans head into midterm elections next week with President Donald Trump struggling to hold down energy costs since launching the war with Iran nearly eight months ago. Oil and gasoline prices have risen since the war began. Low gas prices were a key pledge of Trump's campaign during his second run, and the increases threaten the party's effort to keep control of Congress.

Republicans are defending slim House and Senate majorities and face the historical pattern of the party in power losing seats in midterm years. Persistent inflation, tied in part to the war, which polls show is unpopular, adds to the pressure. The latest Fox News national poll put Trump's approval at 36%, his lowest ever in that survey.

Fox News leads with Trump supporters, not prices. It reports from a Trump rally in Port Huron, Michigan, where nearly 20 voters, including Carol Mocan of Warren, said they would stay with the president and Republicans despite higher prices. They described Democrats as socialists. Fox does cite the 36% approval figure and the political headwinds. The Hill and AP, labeled alternative, concentrate on the cost side: The Hill gives the $4.29 average and the year-over-year rise and predicts voters will punish Republicans, while AP compiles Trump's own statements on gas and energy costs. Left-leaning outlets had not reported this story at the time of writing, while right-leaning and alternative outlets had.