Democrats Seize on Iran-Driven Gas Prices in Appeals to Voters

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, left, and Senator Ruben Gallego, a Democrat from Arizona, during a Feb. 24 news conference at the Capitol. Photographer: Daniel Heuer/Bloomberg

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By Steven T. Dennis

March 9, 2026 at 6:03 PM UTC

Updated on

March 9, 2026 at 8:29 PM UTC

Just a couple of weeks ago, President Donald Trump was promoting lower gasoline costs during his State of the Union. Now, after his war on Iran sent prices at the pump soaring, Democrats are turning the tables.

The financial jolt to motorists has given Democrats another economic pain point to emphasize heading into midterm elections shaping up as a battle over the cost of living.