Republicans Blame Iran War and Prices as Midterm Losses Set Off Debate

Republican leaders spent Wednesday and Thursday arguing over why their party lost the House and the Senate on Tuesday, and the explanations point in different directions, according to CBS News and ABC News. Several of the party’s possible 2028 candidates weighed in, along with the president.

Vice President JD Vance blamed the war with Iran. ‘The reason we lost is the war,’ he wrote, according to both outlets, and ABC reported he also said he is open to changing immigration enforcement and that the results could factor in his 2028 decision. President Donald Trump, asked about Vance’s view, said it was ‘largely true’ that the war pushed up energy prices, CBS reported, but argued the war was worthwhile. CNBC, which also reported the remark, said he then blamed the price of oil rather than the war itself. ABC reported Trump took no responsibility, saying Republicans would have won if he had been on the ballot, and that ‘we weren’t able to transfer the love to candidates.’

Others said cost of living mattered more. Both CBS and ABC cited polling showing voters ranked the cost of living above the war; ABC’s own voter poll found that. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas called the outcome a ‘blue tsunami’ on his podcast, ABC reported, said the party ‘dismissed’ the cost of living, and told CBS the war had ‘dragged on too long’ and that tariffs made goods ‘too expensive.’ Former Vice President Mike Pence argued the opposite, CBS reported: that the war was left unfinished.

Sen. John Cornyn, in a Wall Street Journal essay cited by CBS, wrote that Trump ‘misread his mandate,’ pointing to the ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs and aggressive immigration enforcement, and said corruption had become a top issue. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis called the results a ‘meteor strike’ and ‘close to an extinction-level event’ for Republicans in many parts of the country, ABC and CBS reported. CBS said he faulted a heavy focus on cultural issues and a lack of productivity in the Republican-led Congress. ABC said he plans to address a 2028 bid after his term ends in early 2027.

The fallout is also reaching personnel. House Speaker Mike Johnson will not seek another term as the House Republican leader, CBS and CNBC reported; CBS attributed that to a source, and said Rep. Steve Scalise is running for the post. CNBC reported Rep. Jim Jordan is also expected to compete. Trump said he has ‘every intention’ of keeping Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, ABC reported, though CBS said multiple sources told it Trump had asked advisers whether Hegseth should stay.

Some Republicans struck a rebuilding note rather than a retreat. Cruz said the party must back policies that help the voters it lost, ABC reported, and DeSantis pointed to Florida as proof the party can build a coalition that withstands bad times, though he said rebuilding will take more than one election cycle. CBS said the blame game is expected to intensify ahead of 2028.