By Basant El-Faramawy
Democrats seized controlling majorities in the House and Senate during Tuesday's midterm elections, toppling Republicans in once-reliable strongholds including Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska. The losses were widely attributed to President Donald Trump, who had urged voters to treat the election as a referendum on his presidency.
Gas prices surge after Iran conflict
The national average gasoline price reached $4.15 per gallon on Election Day, up from $2.98 on February 28 when Trump launched military action against Iran, according to AAA. The conflict reduced oil shipping through the Strait of Hormuz to a near-standstill, cutting roughly 20 percent of global supply. Gas prices remained above $4 nationally for more days in 2026 than in any previous year, said Patrick De Haan, head petroleum analyst at GasBuddy.
In Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska, prices rose an average of $1.50 per gallon since February, compared with a $1.14 national increase. Kansas drivers paid 57 percent more, Iowans 60 percent more and Nebraska drivers 62 percent more. Diesel hit $6.29 per gallon on Election Day, a 67 percent jump since the Iran war began. A late October CNN/SSRS poll found 70 percent of Iowans considered gas prices a moderate or severe hardship.
Tariffs raise costs for farmers and consumers
Trump's April 2025 tariffs, ranging from 11 to 50 percent, have cost the average consumer $1,100 and the average small business $426,000, experts say. Fertilizer prices jumped 45 percent between September 2025 and September 2026, hitting Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska — three of the top five states for farm income — especially hard. Corn and soybean farmer Julius Schaaf told MSNOW at an October rally that input costs were "going through the roof," threatening younger farmers. A CNN/SSRS poll showed 55 percent of Iowans viewed the tariffs as bad for the state.
Grocery inflation outpaces national average
Overall inflation stood at 3.7 percent in September, a full percentage point above the level when Trump won re-election in November 2024. Grocery costs in the three Midwestern states rose faster than the 3.31 percent national rate: 3.55 percent in Kansas, 3.46 percent in Iowa and 3.64 percent in Nebraska. Michael Goldberg of Case Western Reserve University said rising prices on essentials create an "inescapable reminder" that overrides positive macroeconomic data and punishes the governing party.
Democrats pledge reversal but warn of delays
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Democrats' 2027 priorities include ending the Iran war and repealing Trump's tariffs. However, University of South Florida professor emeritus Susan MacManus cautioned that any price relief for consumers and businesses would take time to materialize given the economy's complexity and the legislative process.
