House Republicans Head Home With War Spending Win, Face Affordability Backlash in Midterms

House Republicans passed a $95 billion war spending plan and expanded military budget this week before heading home for summer campaigning. The party faces a tough midterm fight: 95% of Americans believe the US faces an affordability crisis, gas and grocery prices have soared since the February Iran conflict began, and 18 US troops have died. Democrats are betting on affordability messaging to retake the House and Senate on November 3.

What Republicans are touting to voters

House Republicans say they’ve delivered major wins. Rep. Brandon Gill of Texas cited tax cuts, over $100 billion for border security, repealing half the Green New Deal, and mandatory spending reform. Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters Wednesday that House Republicans “just proved” major legislating can happen in an election year. The party passed the war spending and military budget along party lines before the summer recess.

The affordability crisis weighing on midterms

Ninety-five percent of Americans believe the US faces an affordability crisis, according to exclusive polling for the Guardian. Gas and grocery prices have soared since the US and Israeli militaries began warring with Iran in February 2025. Democratic congressman Jason Crow said lawmakers heading home will “get crushed, rightfully so, by their constituents” over these costs. Democrats are hammering affordability as their core midterm message.

Cracks in the Republican majority

House Republicans hold a historically small majority, and divisions are showing. Four dissident Republicans joined Democrats to pass a symbolic war powers resolution mandating Trump withdraw troops from Iran combat. Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, a Virginia Democrat, said Congress is “such an easy punching bag” and that lawmakers are best served campaigning on their own records rather than Congress’s performance.

Democrats’ 100-day sprint to power

The midterms are exactly 100 days away on November 3. House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries said on CNN that Republicans have “nothing to run on” after Trump broke promises to lower costs and avoid starting wars overseas. Jeffries argued Republicans are focusing on false voter fraud claims rather than confronting the war’s costs. Democrats are aiming to take control of both chambers.

Final Thoughts

House Republicans leave for recess having passed war spending but facing voter anger over inflation and military costs. With affordability the dominant issue and Democrats gaining momentum, the party’s small majority and internal divisions suggest a difficult path to November.

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