Outgoing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) delivered a blunt assessment of the political landscape on Monday night, telling sports and political commentator Stephen A. Smith on SiriusXM that the ongoing conflict in Iran has become a "big, big drag" on Republican candidates heading into Tuesday's midterm elections.
DeSantis, who challenged President Trump for the GOP nomination in 2024 but has since mended fences and campaigned alongside the president throughout the 2026 cycle, pointed directly to the economic fallout of the war. "We just got to be honest. Gas is higher. It hurts people, working-class people, and it's higher because of this conflict. That's just a fact," he said.
The timing could not be worse for the GOP. Gas prices hit a record high for an election day, averaging $4.11 per gallon. The spike is largely attributed to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments. While the Trump administration has been negotiating to reopen the strait and some oil has resumed flowing, prices remain stubbornly elevated.
DeSantis warned that Republicans ignore this reality at their own peril. "If you can't admit that to voters, then you're gaslighting them, and they're not going to listen to you on other things," he said. His comments reflect a growing concern within the party that the war, which Trump promised to avoid during his 2024 campaign, is alienating key constituencies.
The governor noted that some GOP voters have simply "checked out" because of the prolonged conflict. He added that if the war continues through the remainder of Trump's term, it could have devastating consequences for the party's prospects in 2028. "If it drags on for the rest of his presidency, it's going to be devastating to his ability to get anything done, and it is going to be very, very difficult for Republicans in the next cycle," he said.
DeSantis also offered advice for the party's future, regardless of Tuesday's outcome. He urged Republicans to rethink their positions on artificial intelligence, data centers, and big tech more broadly. He argued that Democrats could gain an advantage with traditionally conservative voters if they take the lead on AI policy. "We do best as a party when we are standing for small business folks, people that are working hard. When we get into corporatism, that's when you really start to lose people," he said.
The governor's remarks come as Florida voters head to the polls in a closely watched Senate race, and as the GOP faces headwinds over the economy and the war. Polls suggest the economy remains the dominant issue for voters, and DeSantis's comments underscore the party's struggle to counter that narrative.
Meanwhile, the president has publicly feuded with Fox News over its coverage of Democratic candidates, a distraction that some strategists say could further complicate the GOP's messaging. As the war grinds on and prices stay high, DeSantis's warning serves as a stark reminder that the conflict's political toll may extend far beyond this election cycle.
