House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is sounding the alarm over soaring gasoline prices, warning that the ongoing conflict with Iran is undercutting the GOP's ability to sell its economic agenda ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. With Republicans clinging to a razor-thin 217-212 majority in the House, the political stakes are rising as fast as the cost of filling up a tank.
In a Sunday interview on Fox News, Johnson pointed directly to the Strait of Hormuz as the root cause of the price surge. Since the war in Iran erupted in late February, Tehran has effectively shut down the vital waterway, sending global energy markets into turmoil. The national average for a gallon of gas now sits at around $4.50, according to AAA.
“Really, all points lead back to that,” Johnson told host Shannon Bream. “Gas prices are too high because of that, and then that has an effect on how goods are transported to the grocery store and all the rest.” The speaker argued that once the strait is “straightened out,” Republicans can refocus on what he called “kitchen table issues.”
The high prices are proving to be a political liability. Polling from late last month indicates that a majority of Americans blame President Trump for the fuel spike, and political analysts warn that voter backlash could cost the GOP seats in November. A recent report from Democrats Risk Midterm Losses by Ignoring Working-Class Economic Concerns highlights how both parties are vulnerable on affordability.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright offered a glimmer of hope on Friday, telling CNBC that the strait could reopen “sometime this summer at the latest,” and possibly “in the next few days.” But for now, the crisis continues to dominate the political landscape. Johnson acknowledged the tension earlier this week, stating the conflict has put “a little damper” on the GOP's messaging around affordability.
“We’ve done everything — the Republican Party, under President Trump’s leadership — have done everything that we possibly can to reverse the maddening inflation of the Biden years,” Johnson told reporters Wednesday. He pointed to the Big Beautiful Bill and the Working Families Tax Cut as evidence of the party’s pro-growth agenda. “The conflict with Iran has put a little damper on that.”
President Trump has floated suspending the federal gas tax as a stopgap measure, a proposal that has drawn support from some Republicans but faces pushback from Democrats who worry it would starve the Highway Trust Fund. A deeper dive into that debate can be found in our piece: Trump's Gas Tax Holiday Faces GOP Resistance Over Highway Fund Concerns.
With less than six months until Election Day, the GOP is scrambling for legislative wins that can resonate with voters. The Iran war has driven inflation to 3.8%, as detailed in Iran War Pushes April Inflation to 3.8%, Hitting Trump Ahead of Midterms, compounding the challenge. Johnson remains optimistic that a resolution will come before voters head to the polls.
“We’re really excited, anxious for that to be resolved so that people will feel that, and I think they will before they go vote in the midterms,” he said. Whether that optimism is warranted remains to be seen, but for now, the price at the pump is shaping up to be a central issue in the 2026 midterms.
