Will gas prices decide the midterms? | America, Actually
Gas prices are hovering around $4 a gallon nationally, and hitting $4.20 in swing states like Pennsylvania. President Trump has promised relief once the Iran war ends, but history shows voters’ patience at the pump doesn’t last long. So Vox’s Astead Herndon traveled to one of the most competitive congressional districts in the country to see if high fuel costs might actually flip votes in this year’s midterm elections.
00:00 Do gas prices decide elections?
01:10 Why $4 gas could hurt Republicans
02:00 What Pennsylvania voters told us
03:00 Did Trump break his promise on gas prices?
05:00 What’s to blame for the higher prices?
08:03 Why some voters still support Trump
12:47 The history of gas prices and elections
14:53 How gas prices helped unseat Jimmy Carter
15:45 Why presidents get blamed for gas prices
17:19 Why gas prices hit differently for Americans
18:45 Can the GOP survive $4 gas?
21:19 Will gas prices decide the midterms?
21:21 How should Democrats campaign?
23:51 The limits of presidential power
Read more about gas prices:
Why Gas Prices Hit Different
https://julianzelizer.substack.com/p/why-gas-prices-hit-different
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@CocoaBananas23
August 10, 2026 at 11:30 am
The president is doing what exactly?? 😂 (8:00)
@RikHeijmen
August 10, 2026 at 11:30 am
That woman in the pink outfit seems to be hypnotized. The way she is just repeating exactly what the president has said.
@dontusethis579
August 10, 2026 at 11:30 am
After seeing the gas station interviews, I firmly believe the average American should not be allowed to vote
@michaellima6272
August 10, 2026 at 11:30 am
Now ask Americans where does U.S. import most of its from? And then who is the U.S. antagonizing by imposing tariffs and threatening annexation?
@joelyates2404
August 10, 2026 at 11:30 am
Won't decide midterms. Where I live gas prices have been dropping for several weeks.
@luisduron2722
August 10, 2026 at 11:30 am
Gas ⛽️??
@craigemmett2425
August 10, 2026 at 11:30 am
Pistol grip microphone. Can’t get much more Murica than that. 🥹
@teinspringz
August 10, 2026 at 11:30 am
Hey, only indifference, ignorance and incompetence will guarantee your future be set on the existing downward spiral that your current administration iis responsible for, so good luck to you
@damercie
August 10, 2026 at 11:30 am
If there are midterms … a chunk of the administration’s time is focused on how to take control of the midterms.
@bunbunson27
August 10, 2026 at 11:30 am
Gas prices affects FOOD PRICES. Do people not realize that?
@AdrianColley
August 10, 2026 at 11:30 am
They'll complain about gas prices, but still vote against better public transport, buy gas guzzlers, and have no comparable outrage about betrayal of the public trust.
@BetaDreTV
August 10, 2026 at 11:30 am
Pendejos for trump
@jakobhansen2854
August 10, 2026 at 11:30 am
Diesel in Denmark is 2,63 dollars/L. That's 8,57 per US gallon. So 4 dollars is cheap.
@robertjohnmarcella263
August 10, 2026 at 11:30 am
do it like Shaq
@blackkissi
August 10, 2026 at 11:30 am
4 $/gallon = 0.91 € / liter
In Europe we have more than 2€ / liter
@BecauseSymbols
August 10, 2026 at 11:30 am
Cheap gas > WW3
@patriciaadams4171
August 10, 2026 at 11:30 am
I JUST SPENT MORE TO FILL MY TINY COROLLA THAN I USED TO PAY TO FILL MY '94 BUICK LESABRE
@KhanhNguyen-hd7ws
August 10, 2026 at 11:30 am
Who cares about gas when people are so sick they can’t even take the bus or walk to work?
@terriej123
August 10, 2026 at 11:30 am
No 1 thing decides an election but the price of gas is a big problem for most Americans.
@DotHacker99
August 10, 2026 at 11:30 am
The woman in pink at 9min is a lemming who's racing towards a cliff and trying to take us all with her 😬
@TooLooze
August 10, 2026 at 11:30 am
I sold my beloved BMW 535 twin turbo AWD late last year because it took premium fuel. Now, I have a smaller Hyundai 4 cyl that holds 5 less gallons of gas than the Beemer. It costs the same amount to fill it up. We need to get money out of politics.
@baronvonteuchter1412
August 10, 2026 at 11:30 am
I wish gas was as cheap as $4/gal here in the UK 🤬
@RuralJuror420
August 10, 2026 at 11:30 am
Short answer is yes. It’s simple but gas prices is kind of the thing that indicates prices of everything else. High gas prices means high grocery prices, tighter budgets at home, etc.
@stdesy
August 10, 2026 at 11:30 am
I’d be slightly worried being a black guy holding a gun shaped object at white peoples at a gas station.
@ijchua
August 10, 2026 at 11:30 am
I find this funny because gas prices are US$12/gal in the country I was from
@blaze404
August 10, 2026 at 11:30 am
Clocked in! 🤓
@AhujaEnt
August 10, 2026 at 11:30 am
Do you listen to your guests responses or just step on them immediately ask the next question? 😊
@sergiorestrepo6657
August 10, 2026 at 11:30 am
👍
@timn36
August 10, 2026 at 11:30 am
Magats will vote against their own self interests so no