When Donald Trump ran for president in 2024, he promised to get gas prices below $2 a gallon “within 12 months.” That sounded good to an electorate unhappy about the high cost of living; Mr. Trump secured his second term in the White House, propelled by double-digit advantages on the economy, inflation, and energy prices.A year and a half later, with the United States at war with Iran, those onetime advantages are looking like potential liabilities, as voters express growing dissatisfaction with high prices in the run-up to the fall midterm elections.Oil and gas prices have surged to their highest levels since 2022, with the average cost of a gallon of gas reaching $4.30 on Thursday. This week alone, gas jumped by 72 cents a gallon in Michigan and 60 cents a gallon in Ohio, both states with key Senate and House races. Nationally, polls show Mr. Trump’s approval rating has sunk below 40%, with the cost of living a top concern for voters, who now say they trust Democrats more than Republicans on the economy for the first time since 2010. Why We Wrote This High prices at the pump pose a direct hit to many Americans’ wallets, and
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