GOP senator blasts party’s ‘disastrous’ blind spot as gas prices skyrocket, and he says midterms could be ‘disastrous’ as a result

Senator Rand Paul warned that the upcoming midterm elections could be “disastrous” for Republicans if the conflict in Iran continues, as reported by The Hill. He believes the party is already struggling electorally, and adding high gas and oil prices into the mix will only make things worse.

Paul expressed his concerns, stating, “Already, we are behind the eight ball as far as the electoral process.” He elaborated, “I think if you add in high gas prices, high oil prices, and if we are still bombing Iran with kinetic action — people don’t want to call it war — if there’s still kinetic action that causes oil to be over $100, I think you’re going to see a disastrous election.” It’s clear he thinks the ongoing strikes against Iran, which have also seen them halt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, are directly impacting American wallets.

The per-barrel price of West Texas Intermediate crude oil actually surged past $100 on Monday, though it did drop back down to less than $85 by early Tuesday afternoon. Still, you can see the volatility. The national average price for a gallon of regular gas also climbed past $3.50 on Tuesday. That’s a pretty significant hike, up more than $0.40 from just a week ago and over $0.60 from a month prior.

Consumers here in the U.S. are definitely feeling the pinch at the pump.

Even before these recent strikes, Americans were already pretty worried about the economy and how much everything costs under President Trump. A survey conducted in January showed that more than 7 out of 10 respondents felt the country’s economic conditions were either fair or poor.

That same survey highlighted specific anxieties, with a whopping 71 percent of respondents “very concerned” about healthcare costs. You’ve also got 66 percent “very concerned” about the price of food and other consumer goods, and 62 percent “very concerned” about housing expenses. It’s a broad spectrum of financial worries impacting everyday life for many.

Democrats were quick to capitalize on these widespread concerns last year, which helped them secure a series of wins in off-year elections. This success has certainly boosted the opposition party’s confidence heading into the midterms, especially with control of both the House and Senate up for grabs in the final two years of the president’s term.

Looking at the House, the numbers paint a competitive picture. Current projections show 189 seats as solidly Democratic, eight as likely Democratic, and 14 as Democratic leans, totaling 211 seats. On the Republican side, 186 seats are considered solidly Republican, 16 as likely Republican, and four as GOP leans, adding up to 206 seats.

There are also 18 seats sitting in the “toss up” category, which is where things get really interesting. Out of those toss-ups, 14 are currently held by Republicans and four by Democrats. To secure a majority in the lower chamber, a party needs 218 seats.

The Senate race is shaping up to be just as tight. Republicans currently hold a 53-47 advantage, but 34 seats are on the ballot this cycle. Four of these seats, split evenly between Republicans and Democrats, are also in the “toss up” category. Democrats are particularly optimistic about state Representative James Talarico’s chances in Texas. He’ll be facing off against the winner of a May runoff between incumbent GOP Senator John Cornyn and state Attorney General Ken Paxton.