US Vice-President JD Vance has blamed the war with Iran for the Republican Party’s defeat in the midterm elections, saying several voters who backed President Donald Trump in 2024 switched to the Democrats despite turning out to vote. His remarks came after Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress in Tuesday’s elections, ending two years of Republican control.
In a post on X, Vance said, “The reason we lost is the war. The president himself said so last night.” While acknowledging that the Republican campaign could have focused more strongly on economic issues, he rejected the suggestion that poor voter turnout alone explained the party’s defeat.
Donald Trump says Iran conflict contributed to election losses
Trump also acknowledged that the war with Iran had affected Republican support, although he stopped short of identifying it as the sole reason for the election setback. Speaking to The Wall Street Journal, he said, “Iran was a piece of it,” while defending his decision to launch military action against Tehran.
“I did the right thing,” Trump said. “I would have done it again,” he said.
The conflict, launched by the United States and Israel against Iran in late February, has continued for more than eight months. During this period, rising energy prices and the cost of living have remained major concerns for American households, making them important issues in the election campaign.
Democrats win control of US House and Senate in midterm elections
The election results marked a major setback for Republicans, with Democrats securing majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Their victories included key Senate contests in Texas, Kansas and South Carolina, where Republican candidates had previously enjoyed strong support.
With all 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats contested on November 3, the results will reshape the balance of power in Washington. Republicans will lose control of Congress when the newly elected lawmakers take office in January, making it harder for Trump to push through legislation without support from Democrats.
JD Vance rejects calls for immigration amnesty after defeat
Vance also criticised Republican figures whom he expects to use the election setback to renew demands for an amnesty for undocumented immigrants. Instead, he suggested that immigration enforcement could place greater scrutiny on businesses employing workers without legal status.
However, he rejected the suggestion that immigration amnesty was the answer to the party’s electoral problems, indicating that Republicans needed to pay closer attention to the concerns of their voters.
The Vice-President also defended television presenter Rachel Campos-Duffy, who had called for a diplomatic resolution to the Iran conflict. In a message directed at Republican voters who had warned the administration about the consequences of the war, Vance acknowledged their concerns and said, “you’re right, you did tell us so.”
His remarks underline the growing debate within the Republican Party over the political consequences of the Iran conflict and the need to regain the support of voters who helped Trump win the 2024 presidential election.
