Rising Gas Prices Tied to Iran War Complicate Midterm Politics

Gasoline prices have surged across the United States this year because of an ongoing war. Fighting near the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted a route that once carried a fifth of global oil. As a result, oil became harder and more expensive to ship around the world. Regular gasoline in the United States has climbed above four dollars a gallon, roughly a dollar higher than last year.

President Trump met with oil refiners and fuel retailers this week to discuss ways to lower prices. The timing is significant, since Republicans are defending narrow majorities in Congress ahead of November's midterm elections. Voters often notice gas prices more than almost any other economic indicator. Recent polling suggests the war has hurt the president's standing with the public. A Reuters and Ipsos survey found his approval rating has fallen to just 33 percent. Only 31 percent of Americans said they approve of how the conflict has been handled.

Earlier in the war, oil prices spiked as high as 112 dollars a barrel before easing slightly. Even with that partial recovery, prices remain far above where they stood a year ago. Economists warn that any new disruption to shipping lanes could send prices climbing again. For many families, the cost of gas has become a daily reminder of a distant conflict's reach. How the administration responds could shape the political landscape heading into the fall campaign season.