Two Republican Senate candidates are calling for a swift end to the Iran war, marking a shift from their earlier support for President Donald Trump’s approach to the conflict.
Michigan candidate Mike Rogers and Iowa candidate Ashley Hinson both spoke out on Monday as rising fuel prices put additional pressure on American households. Their comments come as Republicans prepare for the November midterm elections and face growing concerns about the economic impact of the nearly seven-month-old war.
Hinson Calls for Iran War to End
Hinson, a Republican member of the House of Representatives, has previously supported Trump’s authority to continue military action against Iran. She voted six times against House measures aimed at limiting that authority, including a vote as recently as last week.
However, Hinson now says Iowa families should not have to absorb the higher costs linked to the conflict.
“Iowans are being squeezed and shouldn’t have to foot the bill at the pump or the checkout line for the war in Iran,” Hinson said in a social media post.
She called for a suspension of gasoline taxes and a temporary pause in diesel exports. She also said the war should be brought to a “successful and immediate end.”
The issue carries particular weight in Iowa, where agriculture is an important part of the economy. Farmers rely heavily on diesel for machinery, transportation and other operations.
Rogers Changes His Message on Iran
Rogers, who is running against Democrat Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan, also changed his tone in a new campaign advertisement.
Rogers had previously supported Trump’s strikes against Iran. In a July interview with CBS Detroit, he argued against restricting the president’s authority while Trump was pursuing negotiations to end the conflict.
His latest campaign message was more direct.
“The war with Iran needs to end and end quickly,” Rogers said in the advertisement. He also called for temporary suspensions of state and federal gasoline taxes and a halt to US diesel exports.
Rogers said energy prices could fall sharply once the conflict ends, but argued that Michigan families need relief before then.
Democrats Challenge Republican Shift
Democrats have questioned the timing of the two Republicans’ new positions.
El-Sayed accused Rogers of changing his position only after gasoline and diesel prices rose sharply. Hinson’s opponent, Democrat Josh Turek, also pointed to Hinson’s previous votes on the war.
“It’s easy to send a tweet, but when you had the chance to vote to end this war, you chose not to,” Turek wrote on X.
Other Republicans have also moved away from their earlier positions on the conflict. Iowa Representatives Zach Nunn and Mariannette Miller-Meeks recently joined Democrats in supporting measures to restrict Trump’s war powers in Iran.
Iran War Adds to Economic Pressure
The political debate comes as Americans face higher fuel costs and continued inflation. A new Reuters/Ipsos poll found Trump’s overall approval rating had fallen to 32%, his lowest level recorded in the polling series for his presidency.
The poll found that only 34% of respondents approved of the US strikes on Iran. It also found that 17% approved of Trump’s handling of the cost of living.
For Rogers and Hinson, the latest comments put economic concerns and the Iran war at the center of their Senate campaigns. Their positions also show how some Republican candidates are publicly separating their campaign messages from Trump’s approach to the conflict.
