{"id":2609693,"date":"2026-06-02T16:25:02","date_gmt":"2026-06-02T20:25:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cruz-dismisses-concerns-on-gas-prices-affecting-midterm-elections\/"},"modified":"2026-06-02T16:27:52","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T20:27:52","slug":"cruz-dismisses-concerns-on-gas-prices-affecting-midterm-elections","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cruz-dismisses-concerns-on-gas-prices-affecting-midterm-elections\/","title":{"rendered":"Cruz dismisses concerns on gas prices affecting midterm elections"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcruz-dismisses-concerns-on-gas-prices-affecting-midterm-elections%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2609693&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Sen. ted Cruz said he\u2019s confident President Donald Trump\u2019s conflict with Iran won\u2019t substantially hurt Republicans in the midterms, arguing that higher gas prices are a short-term affect and that there\u2019s no evidence voter sentiment has shifted toward Democrats because of the late-February fighting.<\/p>\n<p>Cruz made the case that national security decisions shouldn\u2019t be driven by immediate political concerns, and he suggested that resolving the conflict favorably-by limiting Iran\u2019s ability to develop nuclear weapons and support terrorism-would eventually lower gas prices. He also pointed to data he says show gas prices had been lower under Trump compared with the Biden period, and that while prices rose again after the Iran conflict, overall political trends for the electorate had not changed materially.<\/p>\n<p>The article notes that global market disruptions tied to the Strait of Hormuz contributed to the spike in U.S. gasoline prices, with the national average cited as $4.29 per gallon (up from a year ago, though down from a recent high). It also <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >highlights polling suggesting cost-<\/a>of-living and inflation concerns-especially gas prices-coudl pose a risk to the GOP, though Cruz argues Republicans can still outperform.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ted-cruz\/\">Ted Cruz <\/a>(R-TX) expressed confidence Tuesday that the public is on board with President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\">Donald Trump<\/a>\u2019s conflict with <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/iran\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"100\">Iran<\/a>, dismissing concerns that dissatisfaction with surging energy prices triggered by the war will negatively affect the Republican Party in the midterm elections.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During an interview on CNBC\u2019s <em>Squawk Box<\/em>, Cruz argued that gas price increases are temporary and still hold below what they reached under the Biden administration. The \u201cshort-term\u201d impact of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/energy-prices-surging-due-to-biden-policies\/\" title=\"Energy ... surging due to Biden policies\">energy prices surging due<\/a> to the Iran war is worth ensuring that the country\u2019s radical Islamist regime does not have access to nuclear weapons, the Republican senator contended, claiming there are \u201cno data\u201d showing voter sentiment has switched to favor Democrats more heavily since the conflict sparked in late February.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4591630\/public-opinion-hasnt-caught-up-graham-platner-sexting-scandal-byron-york\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>\u2018Public opinion hasn\u2019t caught up\u2019 on Platner sexting scandal: Byron York<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4591467\/fetterman-compares-platner-sexting-scandal-eric-swalwell\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Fetterman compares Platner\u2019s sexting scandal to Eric Swalwell<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4590296\/iowa-democratic-primary-tests-anti-schumer-message-senate\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Iowa Senate primary becomes early test of anti-Schumer Democratic message<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI don\u2019t think national security decisions should be done based on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/msnbc-guest-says-bidens-age-is-a-benefit-seriously\/\" title=\"MSNBC guest claims Biden&#039;s age is an advantage. Seriously.\">short-term political considerations<\/a>,\u201d Cruz <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/atrupar\/status\/2061812779355398457\">said<\/a>. \u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019s going to impact the midterms materially.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf this gets resolved and resolved favorably,\u201d he added,\u00a0\u201cif we have a government in Iran that are not Islamists chanting \u2018death to America,\u2019 funding terrorists, and trying to kill us, the long-term effect on the cash price of gas would be to bring it down,\u00a0and I think the American people want the president to do the right thing for the country. There are very few threats on the face of the earth that have a greater prospect of potentially killing hundreds of thousands of Americans than an ayatollah who had a nuclear weapon, which is why President Trump has been so clear-eyed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump launched strikes against Iran on Feb. 28 after the United States was told by Iranian leadership that it had enough enriched uranium to make 11 nuclear bombs within 10 days, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/trump-steve-witkoff-iran-enriched-uranium-11-nuclear-bombs\/\">according to <\/a>the president\u2019s team. The war triggered uproar in the global energy markets, spiking gas and oil prices across the world, due to its impact on the Strait of Hormuz. The Middle Eastern passageway remains in upheaval amid the conflict, spelling doom for the public as much of the world\u2019s fuel supply passes through the strait.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At a national average of $4.29 a gallon, gas prices in the U.S. are over a dollar higher than they were one year ago, according to AAA. Prices have fallen from $4.43 a month ago but have yet to settle back to the $3.14 average from last year, amid the conflict with Iran.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The all-time high for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gas-prices-reach-6-year-high-amid-shortages\/\" title=\"... Reach 6-Year High Amid Shortages\">national average gas price<\/a> was $5.01 in 2022, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/gasprices.aaa.com\/\">according to<\/a> AAA.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The surge in gas prices could have major implications for the GOP in November, as polling consistently shows high inflation and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/premium\/4568013\/gop-urgency-housing-bill-midterm-elections\/\">cost-of-living concerns<\/a> as top considerations for voters heading into the midterm elections.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An Overton Insights survey<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/energy-and-environment\/4577833\/rising-gas-prices-gop-poll\/\"> released last month<\/a> showed 57% of respondents said that due to high gas prices, they were less likely to support the Republican Party.\u00a0The poll came after a <em>Reuters<\/em>-Ipsos survey <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4510366\/gas-prices-trump-iran-war-midterms\/\">released in March<\/a> found that 55% of respondents had their household finances \u201csomewhat\u201d affected by increased gas prices, and 63% disapproved of the administration\u2019s handling of \u200bthe cost of living in the U.S. Only 35% said Trump was doing a good job on the U.S. economy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cruz sought to make the case for his party, arguing that while it still has \u201cwork to do\u201d before November, \u201cthere\u2019s a very real prospect that Republicans hold both the House and Senate.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4591041\/iran-agreed-negotiate-aspects-nuclear-program-rubio\/\">RUBIO: IRAN HAS \u2018AGREED TO NEGOTIATE ASPECTS OF THEIR NUCLEAR PROGRAM<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAnytime there\u2019s military conflict in the Middle East, gas prices go up,\u201d he said. \u201cWhat I\u2019ll tell you \u2014 let\u2019s take gas prices. So, under [former President Joe] Biden, gas prices nationally were between five and six bucks a gallon. Trump came in, and we cut them basically in half, to about three bucks a gallon. \u2026 Now, with the conflict in the Middle East, gas prices have gone up to about 4.50 a gallon, so we\u2019ve given away about half of the decrease we had.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBefore the conflict in Iran started, the national environment was about [Democrat] plus six,\u201d Cruz added. \u201cToday we\u2019re still about D plus six. As far as I can tell, the conflict with Iran has not moved those numbers at all.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Cruz said rising gas prices are temporary and won\u2019t sway midterms on Trump\u2019s Iran conflict<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3142,"featured_media":2609694,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26057604016494.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[36468,32544,34250,5894],"class_list":["post-2609693","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-energy-policy","tag-gas-prices","tag-midterm-elections","tag-politics"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26057604016494.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2609693","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3142"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2609693"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2609693\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2609697,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2609693\/revisions\/2609697"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2609694"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2609693"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2609693"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2609693"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}