Politics · United States · 2 hrs ago
Iran war and rising costs shape tight US midterm races
US voters elect Congress on Nov.
3, with all 435 House seats and about a third of Senate seats at stake.
Republicans currently hold narrow majorities in both chambers, and President Donald Trump’s party controls the federal government.
Polls favour Democrats to win the House, amid dissatisfaction with the country’s direction and worries about household costs.
Inflation, fuel prices and other expenses are weighing on voters, while the Iran war has disrupted oil supplies and pushed up energy costs.
Trump’s approval has fallen since the Iran war began, and polls show many voters disapprove of his handling of the military action.
The Senate contest remains uncertain because its competitive races are in states where Republicans may retain support, despite Democratic gains in polling.
The election will determine which party controls Congress and how much power it has to shape policy alongside the president.
Economic anxiety and the Iran war are major issues shaping the US midterm elections, scheduled for Nov 3.
Polls cited by the Straits Times suggest Democrats are favoured to win the House and have a meaningful chance of taking the Senate.
Fox News reports that Trump’s approval rating fell from 44% in its last pre-war survey to 36% after the war began.
Democratic candidates blame Trump’s tariffs and the Iran war for rising costs, while Republicans promote his 2025 tax-cut law.
Republicans hold narrow majorities in both chambers of Congress, and the Senate outcome remains uncertain.
- Who
- Voters and candidates from the Republican and Democratic parties are contesting control of Congress.
- What
- The US midterm elections will determine control of the House and Senate, with the Iran war and rising costs prominent issues.
- When
- Nov 3, 2026.
- Where
- The United States.
- Why
- Voters are concerned about economic pressures, including household costs, and the Iran war.
Democrats
Republicans
Costs
Democrats
Democrats blame Trump’s tariffs and the Iran war for rising prices and campaign to end both.
Republicans
Republicans tout Trump’s 2025 tax-cut law, including tax breaks for tipped employees, overtime work and Social Security retirement income.
Iran war
Democrats
Democratic candidates have described the war as unpopular, costly and open-ended.
Republicans
Some Republicans support Trump, while others have broken with him or called for the war to end.
The administration began joint US-Israeli military strikes against Iran.
A Pew Research Center survey found that about 84% of registered voters considered the economy very important to their midterm vote.
Representative Tom Barrett spoke against continuing the war in Iran during a campaign debate.
Average petrol prices were US$4.29 a gallon, up from about US$3.06 in 2025.
The US midterm elections are scheduled to take place.
- Election date
- Nov 3, 2026
- House seats
- All 435 seats are up for election
- Senate seats
- About a third are up for election
- Trump approval
- 36% in Fox News’s latest survey, down from 44% in its last pre-war survey
- Petrol price
- US$4.29 a gallon on Oct 24, 2026
- Political advertising
- Projected to reach US$11.6 billion (S$14.8 billion) for the election cycle
3 sources
What people are saying
I have been one of the leading and deciding votes against the continuation of the war in Iran because I take that seriously