Some Republican candidates facing competitive elections are beginning to voice opposition to the war in Iran initiated by President Donald Trump. The conflict, which began in February, has resulted in the deaths of over a dozen U.S. service members and contributed to escalating gas and oil prices. The war has already cost taxpayers approximately $40 billion, according to budget office findings, with no clear end in sight as Iran continues to control the Strait of Hormuz, a critical international shipping lane that has disrupted the global economy.
Rep. Ashley Hinson, a Republican running for Senate in Iowa, stated on X that the war should end, arguing that Iowans should not bear the financial burden at the pump or at the checkout line. This stance is notable, as Hinson has previously voted against House resolutions aimed at ending the war at least six times, including one in the past week.
In Michigan, Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers released an advertisement on Monday calling for an end to the hostilities. "The war with Iran needs to end and end quickly," Rogers said. "When it does, energy costs will plummet, but Michigan families can’t afford to wait for that to happen."
Ohio Sen. Jon Husted echoed similar concerns on Monday, telling Politico that the war must conclude to alleviate gas prices. "The war needs to come to an end as quickly as possible so that we can lower gas prices," he stated.
Rep. John James, a Republican candidate for governor in Michigan, also joined the calls for a swift resolution. "Iran cannot have a nuke, but I’ve always said that we need to use every resource at our disposal to bring this war to an end quickly," James said during a press conference. "Nobody wants war, least of all our veterans."
On Tuesday, Rep. Tom Tiffany, the Republican nominee for governor in Wisconsin, advocated for an exit strategy. "I just believe that we should be exiting Iran, that it’s time to move on," Tiffany told Fox6Now. "We’ve degraded their nuclear facilities. We degraded their military. Most of their ships are at the bottom of the ocean. Time to come home, take care of business here in America."
President Trump, however, has reportedly shown little inclination to end the military engagement. Last week, Trump told Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst that annihilating Iran might be his only option if the nation does not comply with his demands.