Vance Blames Iran War and Israel Policy for Republican Midterm Loss

US Vice-President JD Vance blamed the Iran war and voter dissatisfaction with US policy toward Israel for the Republican Party's defeat in Tuesday's midterm elections, which gave Democrats control of both chambers of Congress. In a social media post on Wednesday, Vance cited pollster findings that voters who backed Donald Trump in 2024 had turned away due to demands to "End the war" and "Change our relationship to Israel." He challenged supporters of the military campaign to defend its political cost, noting the loss of the Senate for six years. The conflict, now in its ninth month, has driven up energy prices and cost-of-living concerns that dominated the campaign. Vance has been viewed as a sceptic within the administration on Iran attacks, while US support for Israel proved contentious in races like Michigan, where victorious Democrat Abdul El-Sayed criticized funding for Israel.