Two Republican Senate candidates in key Midwestern battlegrounds are pressing for a swift conclusion to the war in Iran while rolling out proposals aimed at shielding drivers and farmers from rising fuel costs.
Mike Rogers of Michigan and Ashley Hinson of Iowa each released statements Monday calling for the conflict to be brought to a close, according to Breitbart News. Both candidates argued that ending the war would eventually bring energy prices down, but said households cannot wait for that relief.
“The war with Iran needs to end and end quickly,” Rogers said in a video message. “When it does, energy costs will plummet. But Michigan families can’t afford to wait for that to happen.”
Rogers Targets Diesel Exports
Rogers, a former congressman and House Intelligence Committee chairman, focused his immediate proposals on diesel, which he described as the backbone of the food supply chain. He called for a temporary halt to U.S. diesel exports, arguing that keeping more of the fuel at home would ease pressure on farmers and truckers.
“Diesel fuels the trucks that bring groceries to the store. It fuels the tractors that grow our food,” Rogers said. “And when diesel costs more, it costs more to grow it, ship it, stock it, and ultimately buy it.”
The Michigan candidate also pointed to an earlier proposal of his: suspending state and federal gas taxes. He estimated that step would save drivers 70 cents per gallon.
Hinson Offers Broader Package
Hinson, who represents Iowa in the U.S. House, outlined a similar but wider set of measures. Like Rogers, she endorsed a gas tax suspension and a pause on diesel exports, but added several agricultural and biofuel components.
Her plan includes expanding the use of E15 fuel, restoring the $1-per-gallon biodiesel tax credit, and creating a dedicated diesel relief program for farmers and truckers.
“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 wrote on X. “We need to use every option at our disposal to provide some relief from high prices.”
Hinson also addressed a practical concern with suspending the gas tax: the Highway Trust Fund, which pays for road and bridge construction. She said the fund should be replenished if the tax is paused so that Iowa’s infrastructure does not lose financing.
“These actions to lower costs are needed ASAP, and the war needs to be brought to a successful and immediate end,” she wrote.
Energy Politics in Two Senate Races
The dual announcements put fuel prices and the Iran conflict at the center of two Senate contests that Republicans view as critical to their chances of holding or expanding their majority. Michigan and Iowa have both been battlegrounds in recent cycles, and pump prices remain a potent issue for voters across the Midwest.
Rogers and Hinson are effectively arguing that the war carries direct costs for American consumers, and that Congress and the White House should take steps to blunt those costs in the short term rather than waiting for a resolution to the conflict to ripple through energy markets.
Whether either proposal gains traction in Washington is another matter. Suspending the federal gas tax has repeatedly stalled in Congress over concerns about the Highway Trust Fund, and the biodiesel tax credit has lapsed and been renewed in past legislative fights. A halt to diesel exports would mark a significant shift in trade policy and could draw pushback from exporters and allied nations dependent on U.S. supply.
Still, the candidates’ messaging reflects a broader Republican effort to channel voter anxiety over inflation and energy into support for their Senate bids. By pairing calls for an end to the war with concrete, consumer-facing proposals, Rogers and Hinson are aiming to show voters they have a plan for immediate relief โ not just a position on the conflict itself.
Rogers’ video and Hinson’s post arrived on the same day, suggesting a coordinated effort to keep the issue in the news as the campaign season intensifies. Both candidates framed their proposals as necessary steps that should not wait for the war to conclude.
Source: www.breitbart.com โ https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/09/21/gop-senate-candidates-michigan-iowa-push-end-iran-war/