Members of Congress from both parties are expressing concern over rising gas prices amid the ongoing conflict with Iran, which has become a significant issue ahead of midterm elections. Republicans like Rep. Aaron Bean and Rep. Nancy Mace from Florida and South Carolina respectively, have highlighted the financial strain on constituents; Mace specifically criticized political promises as deceptive. Democrats such as Rep. Maxine Dexter also noted substantial increases in their fuel costs since February. Speaker Mike Johnson sent Congress home early for campaigning, acknowledging the high prices but not offering specific solutions.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-17,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Congress returned from recess but will only have four voting days in the House and a few more in the Senate before members leave for midterm campaigning. Lawmakers are focusing on passing "messaging bills" rather than addressing major issues like immigration, debt, or healthcare costs, which remain unresolved year after year. The abbreviated session means time-sensitive legislation such as military funding and AI regulation will likely be delayed until after November's midterms.
Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican ousted in his primary by a Trump-backed candidate, introduced articles of impeachment against Pete Hegseth, the Secretary of War (referred to as Defense Secretary), alleging abuse of power for conducting military actions against Iran without Congress' formal declaration of war. Despite criticism from Pentagon officials and unlikely passage, Massie's move could force a contentious vote in the Republican-controlled House before members depart for their campaigns.
Written for “Congress Midterm Recess Campaigning” on 2026-09-18,
grounded in this article and the 18 other(s) covering the same event.
President Donald Trump has said that rising gas prices are a small price to pay for the war in Iran.
asserted
prices → say → Iran
But members of Congress in both parties are warning that this could become a crisis for Republicans in the midterm election.
uncertain
this → warn → election
The Independent spoke with members of Congress this week as Speaker Mike Johnson sent the House of Representatives home early to campaign for the midterm elections after only three days in session.
asserted
Johnson → speak → session
“It’s a lot lately,” Rep. Aaron Bean (R-Fla.) said.
asserted
Bean → ’ → ?
The average cost for a gallon of gas as of Thursday in Florida is $4.30, according to AAA, slightly lower than the national average of just over $4.40.
uncertain
cost → accord → 4.40
And gas prices don’t discriminate by vehicle.
asserted
prices → discriminate → vehicle
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) uses a Jeep Wagoneer SUV and said she feels the pinch.
asserted
she → use → pinch
“It was $100, close to $100, which is expensive,” she told The Independent.
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she → tell → Independent
Mace will not return to Congress next year after a failed bid for governor.
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Mace → return → governor
But she had a word of caution for her colleagues.
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she → have → colleagues
“The No. 1 issue, everybody knows, is cost of living, and neither party has addressed it,” she said.
asserted
she → know → it
“I mean, they're full of s**t.
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they → mean → s**t
They're bullsh**ing people.
asserted
They → bullsh**e → people
They're lying to the electorate about what they can do.”
asserted
they → lie → what
She also panned Trump’s promise to give every American adult citizen a $5,000 check if Republicans hold the majority.
asserted
Republicans → pan → majority
On the other end of the spectrum, Democratic Rep. Maxine Dexter of Oregon said she pays significantly more than she did in the beginning of the year.
asserted
she → say → year
“I think it was about $45 and I’ve got a [gas-electric hybrid] Prius,” Dexter told The Independent.
asserted
Dexter → think → Independent
The price of gas has spiked ever since Trump began the war in Iran in late February.
asserted
Trump → spike → February
In response, the Iranian regime closed off the Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of the world’s oil supply passes.
asserted
fifth → close → supply
Fighting between Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen against Saudi Arabia also caused the price of fuel to spike.
asserted
price → back → fuel
Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) said that it cost him $69 to fill up his tank last time.
asserted
it → say → tank
"We got a war going, I don't blame the president for that,” he told The Independent.
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he → got → Independent
“He does need to explain to the American people."
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He → need → people
Norman attempted to run for the Republican nomination for governor like Mace, but lost.
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Norman → attempt → Mace
He then tried to challenge Sen. Darline Graham (R-S.C.) for the Republican nominate to replace her brother, the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, in the Senate but lost.
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He → try → Senate
Some Republicans dodged the question.
asserted
Republicans → dodge → question
Rep. Nick LaLota of Long Island dodged when asked, as did Rep. Andrew Clyde of Georgia, a member of the hardline House Freedom Caucus.
asserted
Clyde → dodge → Caucus
“You have a little higher,” he told a crowd in North Carolina on Wednesday.
asserted
he → have → Wednesday
“It’s a very inexpensive price to pay for what we’ve done.
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we → ’ → what
House Speaker Johnson talked at his press conference about how he knows gas is still too expensive.
asserted
gas → talk → conference
“We're going to acknowledge obviously gas prices are too high right now, diesel prices are too high,” he said on Tuesday.
asserted
he → go → Tuesday
The average price of diesel is currently $6.40 as of Thursday according to AAA.
uncertain
price → accord → AAA
“So much that I couldn’t pay in cash, I had to put it on a credit card,” Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) told The Independent.
asserted
McGovern → pay → Independent
McGovern said Trump is out of touch about the cost of gas.
asserted
Trump → say → gas
“He should talk to his limo driver,” he said.
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he → talk → driver
Chris DeLuzio (D-Penn.) represents western Pennsylvania and talked about the cost in places like Beaver County, where Trump is popular.
asserted
Trump → represent → County
“Well it’s now an average of about $4.60 or so a gallon in Beaver and Allegheny County,” he told The Independent.
asserted
he → ’ → Independent
The Aporia
