The ongoing conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel has been identified as one of the major factors behind the Democratic Party's historic victory in the 2026 US midterm elections.
Political analyst Rami G. Khouri, in an opinion article published by Al Jazeera on Saturday, November 7, argued that the economic and political consequences of the war significantly weakened President Donald Trump's Republican Party ahead of the elections.
According to Khouri, Trump's administration expected its military campaign to force Iran into submission. However, Tehran survived the attacks and retaliated against US and Israeli interests, while also targeting locations in Arab countries.
The conflict reportedly disrupted international shipping through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, triggering increases in global energy prices and making essential commodities, transportation and fuel more expensive for American households.
Khouri noted that approximately 90 per cent of American voters considered the rising cost of living a major factor in determining their electoral choices.
He further argued that the failure of the United States and Israel to achieve their military objectives weakened public confidence in Trump's leadership and raised questions about Washington's military strategy.
The analyst also identified widespread opposition to the war, concerns over the legality of the military operation, political corruption, immigration enforcement and dissatisfaction with the administration's economic policies as factors that contributed to the Republican Party's defeat.
He said many voters were particularly frustrated by what they considered excessive Israeli influence over American foreign policy, especially Washington's decision to participate in the military campaign against Iran.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian issue and US military support for Israel reportedly became important campaign subjects for progressive Democratic candidates, further increasing pressure on the Republican administration.
Following the election, Vice President JD Vance reportedly attributed the Republican Party's poor performance to the war, highlighting four major concerns among voters: ending the conflict, tackling inflation and the rising cost of living, prioritising American interests, and reviewing Washington's relationship with Israel.
Trump also reportedly promised on election day to end nearly $4 billion in annual US military assistance to Israel, although Khouri questioned the sincerity of the announcement.
The analyst concluded that the election outcome reflected growing frustration among Americans over the economic consequences of foreign conflicts, government accountability and the administration's failure to address issues affecting ordinary citizens.
The views and analysis were expressed by Rami G. Khouri and do not necessarily represent Al Jazeera's editorial position.
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