President Donald Trump’s war against Iran is colliding with political reality, as surging gas prices threaten Republican control of Congress ahead of the 2026 elections.

Pocketbook issues are expected to dominate the midterm elections, and the recent spike in gas prices is emerging as a potential political liability for the president. Iran has choked off access to the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane between Iran and Oman through which nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes.