As the midterm elections approach, Republicans in pivotal states have started voicing their opposition to the Iran war.
Candidates are advocating for an end to the conflict, aligning with a growing public discontent over the war and economic worries. Key Republican figures such as Representative Ashley Hinson from Iowa, Senator Jon Husted from Ohio, gubernatorial candidate Tom Tiffany from Wisconsin, and Senate candidate Mike Rogers from Michigan, who previously supported President Trump’s actions or opposed war powers measures, are now calling for a change.
“I truly believe it’s time for us to exit Iran. We’ve damaged their nuclear capabilities and military. It’s time to come home and focus on issues right here in the U.S.,” Tiffany expressed on Tuesday. He emphasized the need to address local economic challenges, highlighting the importance of reducing taxes and returning surplus funds to Wisconsin residents.
Wisconsin GOP candidate for governor Rep. Tom Tiffany today on rising gas prices and Iran: “I just believe we should be exiting Iran, that it’s time to move on … Time to come home, take care of business here in America.” pic.twitter.com/oHo1QjiGDr
— Matt Smith (@mattsmith_news) September 22, 2026
Senator Husted also conveyed his concerns about the war to Politico, stressing it should “wrap up as soon as possible” to help lower gas prices, particularly since he is vying for his Senate seat against former Democrat Sherrod Brown in Ohio.
“Ending the war swiftly is essential for reducing fuel costs,” Husted stated. Interestingly, he had previously voted against a war powers resolution shortly after expressing his wish for a quick end to the conflict.
Republican leaders are worried about tightening races not just in Ohio, but also in states like Iowa, Texas, and Kansas, leading to significant financial investments in areas previously considered safe for the party, as reported by Politico.
Hinson, seeking a Senate seat, voiced her concerns on X, indicating that Iowans are feeling the pressure from rising living costs linked to the war.
“Iowa families shouldn’t bear the burden of the Iran war financially. We need to explore every avenue for cost relief, like suspending the gas tax and pausing diesel exports, among other measures,” Hinson advised.
Iowans are being squeezed and shouldn’t have to foot the bill at the pump or the checkout line for the war in Iran. We need to use every option at our disposal to provide some relief from high prices.
That includes suspending the gas tax, pausing diesel exports, unleashing E-15…
— Ashley Hinson (@hinsonashley) September 21, 2026
Both Hinson and Tiffany had previously voted against several resolutions intended to halt military actions in Iran. On September 16, some Republicans, including Representatives Tom Barrett, Warren Davidson, and several others, joined Democrats to support a recent war powers resolution, while Hinson opposed it and Tiffany abstained from voting.
Senate candidate Mike Rogers from Michigan stated that the ongoing war must come to an end to alleviate costs for families.
“The war in Iran should finish up quickly to help lower expenses, and we can’t let Michigan families wait. We ought to consider an embargo on diesel exports right now,” Rogers commented on X.
The war in Iran needs to end to bring costs down — but Michigan families can’t afford to wait.
Here’s what we can do now: place a temporary embargo on Diesel exports. American energy should provide relief to American families first. pic.twitter.com/15IS1tjnJS
— Mike Rogers (@MikeRogersForMI) September 21, 2026
Previously, Rogers had referred to Iran as a significant threat and supported continued military actions as beneficial for the U.S. He had not opposed giving Trump authority over military actions while discussions were ongoing.
A recent CNN/SSRS poll indicated that only 26% of Americans were satisfied with Trump’s management of the Iran war, although 60% of Republicans approved of it. Notably, over half of Republican voters under 45 expressed discontent with Trump’s handling of the situation.
As affordability remains the dominant topic for voters heading into the midterms, gas prices have surged roughly 44% since the war began, averaging $4.47 per gallon, according to AAA. Additionally, grocery prices have increased at an annual rate of 2.2%, with predictions of further acceleration due to rising fuel costs impacting supply chains.
