Vice President JD Vance blamed the war with Iran for Republican losses in the November 3 midterm elections, saying the party must confront its impact as Democrats take control of both chambers of Congress.
“The reason we lost is the war,” Vance wrote Wednesday on X. He argued that many voters who backed him and President Donald Trump in 2024 switched to Democratic candidates in 2026. His assessment was also reported by CBS News.
Vance said those voters were motivated by several issues: ending the Iran conflict, the cost of living and inflation, the “America First” agenda, and the U.S. relationship with Israel. He also suggested Republicans’ economic message was not sharp enough in the closing weeks of the campaign.
The vice president framed the war as the main reason for the defeats, but his post did not establish that it alone caused the result. The Associated Press reported that voters also cited concerns including the economy, corruption and the balance of power between Congress and the president.
Vance said the party should be honest about whether the conflict was worth the political cost, including losing its hold on the Senate. He also endorsed a call by Fox News host Rachel Campos-Duffy for a diplomatic resolution, describing the proposal as “sound.”
Trump had said the war might have contributed to Republican losses, while defending his decision to launch it. The conflict began in late February, after the president said it would last four to five weeks. By the time of the midterms, it had continued into its eighth month, and gas prices had risen, according to the source report.
Vance’s comments came as some Senate contests were still unresolved. Democrats’ control of both chambers had been reported, but final seat totals remained subject to outstanding races.
Reid Bentley