Michigan Senate Candidate Calls for Gas-Tax Halt as Iran Conflict Drives Fuel Prices

Former Rep. Mike Rogers, the Republican Senate candidate in Michigan, announced a campaign ad showing him in a grocery store and urged an immediate end to the war with Iran. He argued that the conflict is inflating gasoline and diesel costs and that “Michigan families can’t afford to wait.” Rogers suggested suspending the 70-cent-per-gallon state and federal gas tax and imposing a temporary embargo on U.S. diesel exports until hostilities cease, saying the measures would increase supply for farmers and truckers and place “downward pressure” on diesel prices.

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Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz—through which roughly 20 % of global oil shipments pass—has been linked to sharply higher fuel prices in the United States. The surge has become a focal point for Republican candidates seeking to address cost-of-living concerns ahead of the 2024 midterms.

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• Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa) echoed Rogers, calling for a gas-tax suspension, a pause on diesel exports, relaxed ethanol-blend restrictions, and a “diesel relief program” for farmers and truckers.

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• Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) announced plans to introduce a bill that would issue $5,000 dividend checks to American adults if Republicans retain control of Congress, positioning the proposal as a quicker remedy for high prices than tax changes.

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According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), the national average price for gasoline rose to $4.48 per gallon, $1.30 higher than the previous year’s average. Diesel prices reached $6.51 per gallon. These figures illustrate the immediate economic pressure cited by Rogers and Hinson.

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• “Michigan families can’t afford to wait” — Monday — Mike Rogers, Republican Senate candidate (Michigan)

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