Most US Voters Reluctant to Back Candidates Supporting Iran War

Most American voters are reluctant to support political candidates who back the US-Israeli war against Iran. A poll conducted ahead of the 2026 midterm elections found that voters were more than three times as likely to reject candidates supporting the war as to support them. The survey also showed that most Americans want the government to prioritise preventing domestic price increases over achieving its military objectives in Iran.

Al Jazeera reported the findings.

A YouGov poll released on Monday, November 9, found that 44 percent of American voters were less likely to vote for candidates who supported the Iran war. In contrast, only 13 percent said they were more likely to support such candidates. Another 26 percent said the war would make little difference to their voting decisions.

The economic consequences of the conflict also featured prominently in the survey. Some 56 percent of respondents said the United States should prioritise preventing domestic prices from rising over achieving the Trump administration’s military objectives in Iran. Meanwhile, 22 percent said achieving those military objectives should take priority.

The poll also asked who should have the final authority to decide when the war ends. A majority of respondents, 53 percent, said Congress should have the final say, while 29 percent believed the decision should rest with the president.

The United States and Israel jointly launched military operations against Iran on February 28. President Donald Trump’s decision to engage in the conflict without congressional authorisation has sparked constitutional debate in the United States.

Jonathan Guyer, programme director at the Institute for Global Affairs at Eurasia Group, told Al Jazeera that the findings indicated that Americans wanted Congress to play a more active role in the Iran war. He said voters expected lawmakers to take a stronger position when presidents make unilateral military decisions.

In the November 3 midterm elections, Trump's Republican Party suffered a major setback, with Democrats regaining control of both chambers of Congress. Democrats also won key electoral contests in traditionally conservative states such as Texas.

The election results have intensified debate over the Iran war within both parties. Some Democrats believe the party's leadership should take a tougher stance on limiting presidential powers and bringing the conflict with Iran to an end.

The poll found that Republican voters were the only group more inclined to support candidates backing the war. However, Guyer said support within the party was limited. According to him, about one-third of Republicans were more likely to vote for candidates who supported the war, while 40 percent said the candidates' position would make no difference to their voting decisions.

The survey was conducted online by YouGov among 1,000 US adults between October 29 and November 2, on behalf of the Institute for Global Affairs at Eurasia Group. The poll had a margin of error of 3.4 percentage points.