"BBC" lists 5 major reasons for the Republican Party's defeat, the Iran war is the key

The Democratic Party won the U.S. midterm elections and gained control of the Senate and House of Representatives. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) listed five major reasons why the Republican Party is facing a disastrous defeat.

The No. 1 reason is the Iran war. The United States and Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran on February 28, and Iran subsequently blocked the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation. Blockades on key arteries transporting the world's oil and liquefied natural gas have sent fuel prices soaring. U.S. government data shows that the average U.S. retail diesel price in early October was slightly lower than the historical record of $6.52 per gallon (approximately NT$214) set in September.

A voter survey showed that about 63% of respondents believed that the United States was wrong to take military action against Iran. Another 74% of voters claimed that the conflict between the United States and Iran was an important factor in voting for members of Congress. U.S. Vice President Vance bluntly stated on X on the 4th that the Iran war was the reason for the defeat of the Republican Party. U.S. President Trump also said that Vance's statement about the Iran war was "basically true."

The second biggest reason is the soaring cost of living. Voters from coast to coast are distressed by soaring prices for daily necessities, and that anger is on full display in crucial elections.

Prices rose 3.7% in the year to September, driven by rising fuel and energy prices. Voter poll data show that 79% of voters said that inflation has caused a severe or moderate financial burden on them in the past year.

The third major reason is Trump’s low approval rating. Both the Iran war and rising prices are related to Trump, which has caused his approval rating to continue to decline. While Trump has energized his supporters by urging voters to imagine him as the candidate, the election results show that this strategy appears to be counterproductive amid rising public anger.

The fourth biggest reason is that Hispanic and black voters changed their stance. Two years ago, some Hispanic and African-American voters switched to the Republican Party, helping Trump achieve a decisive victory. But in this midterm election, that trend has reversed.

According to a New York Times analysis, support for Republican Senate candidates in majority-Hispanic counties has dropped by more than 22 percentage points compared with the 2024 presidential election. Majority-black counties also lean significantly toward Democratic candidates in Senate elections.

This shift comes amid widespread public dissatisfaction with immigration enforcement. According to Pew Research Center data, 56% of Americans have a negative view of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The fifth reason is that the Democratic Party sends a clear message. The Democratic victory was a result of strong and genuine candidates who insisted on delivering a clear message and focused on cost of living and health care issues.

Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed won in Michigan, using "Keep money out of politics, keep money in your pocket" as his campaign slogan. Democratic candidate Annie Andrews also won South Carolina with her focus on health care affordability, which resonated with many voters who believe the health care system is broken.