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Gas prices could shape the midterms. See the US states where prices have risen the most.

Business Insider
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In 42 states, gas prices are more than $1 higher today than they were a year ago.

Charles-McClintock Wilson/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Rising gas prices since the beginning of the Iran War are a key issue during the 2026 midterms.

Since last year, regular gas prices have increased by 40%, and diesel prices by 71% across states.

Michigan, a key battleground state, saw the second-sharpest rise in gas prices after Wisconsin.

For many voters, their choice in the midterm elections could come down to one thing: the pain at the pump .

Since the Iran War began in February, higher fuel costs have become a growing pressure point for Americans. Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz , a critical global shipping chokepoint, have tightened global fuel supplies and pushed energy prices worldwide.

On average, regular gas prices in the US today are nearly 40% higher than a year ago, according to AAA’s  Fuel Price Tracker  as of November 2. In 42 states, regular gas prices per gallon today are at least $1 higher than they were a year ago.

For diesel fuel , which is used in industries like agriculture and manufacturing , as well as for transporting goods, the rise has been even sharper. Across all US states , diesel prices have risen by 71% on average.

Almost every US state recorded its highest-ever diesel prices this fall, with the exception of Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New York, which saw higher prices in 2022, when Russia’s invasion of Ukraine sent global fuel prices soaring.

A White House spokesperson told Business Insider that once the conflict in the Middle East ends, gas prices will “drop drastically,” adding Iran also “will not have a nuclear weapon.”

“Thanks to the exceptional work of the US military, more oil is now flowing out of the Persian Gulf than before the Iran conflict began,” the spokesperson said.

To see how fuel prices have risen across the US, Business Insider used AAA data to compare today’s gas prices with those a year ago. We ranked all US states by the percentage increase in regular prices, which most people see at the pump . We also listed the rise in diesel prices in each state to provide a fuller picture.

See how prices have risen in every US state in the past year, ranked from lowest to sharpest rise.

50. Washington

M. Scott Brauer/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Regular gas price today : $5.19 a gallon

Regular gas price increase: 21.2% ($0.91) from a year ago

Diesel gas price today : $7.25 a gallon

Diesel gas price increase: 45.6% ($2.27) from a year ago

49. North Carolina

Travis Dove/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Regular gas price today : $3.38 a gallon

Regular gas price increase: 22.7% ($0.63) from a year ago

Diesel gas price today : $5.49 a gallon

Diesel gas price increase: 58.2% ($2.02) from a year ago

48. Oregon

A price board is seen at a gas station in Oregon, the United States, July 13, 2022. U.S. consumer price index CPI, a broad measure of everyday goods and services, soared 9.1 percent in June from a year ago, marking the largest 12-month increase since the period ending November 1981, the Labor Department reported Wednesday. (Photo by

Wang Ying/Xinhua via Getty Images

Regular gas price today : $4.79 a gallon

Regular gas price increase: 23.2% ($0.90) from a year ago

Diesel gas price today : $6.71 a gallon

Diesel gas price increase: 53.7% ($2.34) from a year ago

47. Alaska

A Chevron gas station in Anchorage, Alaska, US, on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025. The Friday summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will take place at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska’s largest military installation less than a thousand miles from Russia. Photographer: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Bloomberg/Getty Images

Regular gas price today : $4.76 a gallon

Regular gas price increase: 24.4% ($0.93) from a year ago

Diesel gas price today : $6.44 a gallon

Diesel gas price increase: 57.9% ($2.36) from a year ago

46. Hawaii

Jill K. Briggs / AFP via Getty Images

Regular gas price today : $5.66 a gallon

Regular gas price increase: 26.3% ($1.18) from a year ago

Diesel gas price today : $7.22 a gallon

Diesel gas price increase: 38.3% ($2.00) from a year ago

45. California

David Swanson / AFP via Getty Images

Regular gas price today : $5.91 a gallon

Regular gas price increase: 27.0% ($1.26) from a year ago

Diesel gas price today : $8.34 a gallon

Diesel gas price increase: 62.5% ($3.21) from a year ago

44. Georgia

Elijah Nouvelage/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Regular gas price today : $3.58 a gallon

Regular gas price increase: 28.4% ($0.79) from a year ago

Diesel gas price today : $5.66 a gallon

Diesel gas price increase: 62.3% ($2.17) from a year ago

43. Florida

Zak Bennett/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Regular gas price today : $3.86 a gallon

Regular gas price increase: 30.0% ($0.89) from a year ago

Diesel gas price today : $5.98 a gallon

Diesel gas price increase: 63.8% ($2.33) from a year ago

42. Indiana

Marcin Golba/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Regular gas price today : $3.81 a gallon

Regular gas price increase: 31.0% ($0.90) from a year ago

Diesel gas price today : $6.76 a gallon

Diesel gas price increase: 76.9% ($2.94) from a year ago

41. Arizona

Rebecca Noble/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Regular gas price today : $4.42 a gallon

Regular gas price increase: 31.4% ($1.06) from a year ago

Diesel gas price today : $6.29 a gallon

Diesel gas price increase: 74.7% ($2.69) from a year ago

40. Nevada

Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Regular gas price today : $5.24 a gallon

Regular gas price increase: 34.2% ($1.33) from a year ago

Diesel gas price today : $6.82 a gallon

Diesel gas price increase: 72.9% ($2.88) from a year ago

39. Idaho

Union 76 gas station along city street, northern Idaho. (Photo by: Don & Melinda Crawford/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

: Don & Melinda Crawford/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Regular gas price today : $4.53 a gallon

Regular gas price increase: 34.8% ($1.17) from a year ago

Diesel gas price today : $6.53 a gallon

Diesel gas price increase: 75.1% ($2.80) from a year ago

38. Maryland

Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Regular gas price today : $3.99 a gallon

Regular gas price increase: 35.1% ($1.04) from a year ago

Diesel gas price today : $6.32 a gallon

Diesel gas price increase: 72.9% ($2.67) from a year ago

37. Delaware

CHRIS STEIN/AFP via Getty Images

Regular gas price today : $3.95 a gallon

Regular gas price increase: 35.4% ($1.03) from a year ago

Diesel gas price today : $6.31 a gallon

Diesel gas price increase: 75.2% ($2.71) from a year ago

36. South Carolina

Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images

Regular gas price today : $3.65 a gallon

Regular gas price increase: 36.2% ($0.97) from a year ago

Diesel gas price today : $5.73 a gallon

Diesel gas price increase: 67.7% ($2.31) from a year ago

35. Virginia

Mehmet Eser/Anadolu via Getty Images

Regular gas price today : $3.96 a gallon

Regular gas price increase: 36.2% ($1.05) from a year ago

Diesel gas price today : $6.22 a gallon

Diesel gas price increase: 73.7% ($2.64) from a year ago

34. Pennsylvania

Matthew Hatcher/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Regular gas price today : $4.43 a gallon

Regular gas price increase: 37.9% ($1.22) from a year ago

Diesel gas price today : $6.59 a gallon

Diesel gas price increase: 64.0% ($2.57) from a year ago

33. New Jersey

Gary Hershorn/Getty Images

Regular gas price today : $4.13 a gallon

Regular gas price increase: 39.1% ($1.16) from a year ago

Diesel gas price today : $6.37 a gallon

Diesel gas price increase: 74.7% ($2.72) from a year ago

32. Connecticut

Paul Hughes/Connecticut Post via Getty Images

Regular gas price today : $4.25 a gallon

Regular gas price increase: 39.6% ($1.20) from a year ago

Diesel gas price today : $6.41 a gallon

Diesel gas price increase: 70.6% ($2.65) from a year ago

31. Vermont

Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Regular gas price today : $4.32 a gallon

Regular gas price increase: 39.7% ($1.23) from a year ago

Diesel gas price today : $6.36 a gallon

Diesel gas price increase: 66.8% ($2.55) from a year ago

30. Massachusetts

Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images

Regular gas price today : $4.18 a gallon

Regular gas price increase: 39.8% ($1.19) from a year ago

Diesel gas price today : $6.31 a gallon

Diesel gas price increase: 65.8% ($2.51) from a year ago

29. New York

Lori Van Buren/Times Union via Getty Images

Regular gas price today : $4.34 a gallon

Regular gas price increase: 39.8% ($1.24) from a year ago

Diesel gas price today : $6.49 a gallon

Diesel gas price increase: 67.4% ($2.61) from a year ago

28. West Virginia

Alex Wroblewski/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Regular gas price today : $4.16 a gallon

Regular gas price increase: 39.9% ($1.19) from a year ago

Diesel gas price today : $6.37 a gallon

Diesel gas price increase: 75.6% ($2.74) from a year ago

27. Alabama

Micah Green/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Regular gas price today : $3.73 a gallon

Regular gas price increase: 40.5% ($1.07) from a year ago

Diesel gas price today : $5.85 a gallon

Diesel gas price increase: 71.5% ($2.44) from a year ago

26. Maine

Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Regular gas price today : $4.25 a gallon

Regular gas price increase: 40.6% ($1.23) from a year ago

Diesel gas price today : $6.40 a gallon

Diesel gas price increase: 65.0% ($2.52) from a year ago

25. Tennessee

Camden Hall/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Regular gas price today : $3.71 a gallon

Regular gas price increase: 40.9% ($1.08) from a year ago

Diesel gas price today : $5.92 a gallon

Diesel gas price increase: 74.8% ($2.53) from a year ago

24. Rhode Island

Adam Glanzman/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Regular gas price today : $4.12 a gallon

Regular gas price increase: 41.0% ($1.20) from a year ago

Diesel gas price today : $6.30 a gallon

Diesel gas price increase: 67.0% ($2.53) from a year ago

23. Ohio

Jessica Phelps/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Regular gas price today : $4.13 a gallon

Regular gas price increase: 41.2% ($1.21) from a year ago

Diesel gas price today : $6.44 a gallon

Diesel gas price increase: 73.5% ($2.73) from a year ago

22. North Dakota

: Jim West/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Regular gas price today : $4.02 a gallon

Regular gas price increase: 41.7% ($1.18) from a year ago

Diesel gas price today : $6.06 a gallon

Diesel gas price increase: 73.1% ($2.56) from a year ago

21. Utah

Charles-McClintock Wilson/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Regular gas price today : $4.53 a gallon

Regular gas price increase: 41.8% ($1.34) from a year ago

Diesel gas price today : $6.47 a gallon

Diesel gas price increase: 79.3% ($2.86) from a year ago

20. Louisiana

Mark Felix/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Regular gas price today : $3.70 a gallon

Regular gas price increase: 42.0% ($1.10) from a year ago

Diesel gas price today : $5.75 a gallon

Diesel gas price increase: 76.5% ($2.49) from a year ago

19. Minnesota

: Michael Siluk/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Regular gas price today : $4.07 a gallon

Regular gas price increase: 42.0% ($1.21) from a year ago

Diesel gas price today : $6.16 a gallon

Diesel gas price increase: 69.8% ($2.53) from a year ago

18. Montana

SAVAGE, MONTANA – SEPTEMBER 21: Valley Fuel & Supply gas station is seen September 21, 2026 in Savage, Montana. (Photo by Lauren Miller/Montana Free Press/CatchLight via Getty Images)

Lauren Miller/Montana Free Press/CatchLight via Getty Images

Regular gas price today : $4.30 a gallon

Regular gas price increase: 42.2% ($1.28) from a year ago

Diesel gas price today : $6.16 a gallon

Diesel gas price increase: 74.4% ($2.63) from a year ago

17. New Hampshire

: Snap Decision/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Regular gas price today : $4.16 a gallon

Regular gas price increase: 42.4% ($1.24) from a year ago

Diesel gas price today : $6.34 a gallon

Diesel gas price increase: 67.8% ($2.56) from a year ago

16. Texas

RONALDO SCHEMIDT / AFP via Getty Images

Regular gas price today : $3.65 a gallon

Regular gas price increase: 42.8% ($1.09) from a year ago

Diesel gas price today : $5.74 a gallon

Diesel gas price increase: 80.4% ($2.56) from a year ago

15. Missouri

Whitney Curtis for The Washington Post via Getty Images

Regular gas price today : $3.83 a gallon

Regular gas price increase: 43.4% ($1.16) from a year ago

Diesel gas price today : $6.05 a gallon

Diesel gas price increase: 78.7% ($2.67) from a year ago

14. Kansas

Jim Vondruska/Getty Images

Regular gas price today : $3.88 a gallon

Regular gas price increase: 43.5% ($1.18) from a year ago

Diesel gas price today : $6.00 a gallon

Diesel gas price increase: 73.5% ($2.54) from a year ago

13. South Dakota

Scott Olson/Getty Images

Regular gas price today : $4.09 a gallon

Regular gas price increase: 44.5% ($1.26) from a year ago

Diesel gas price today : $6.01 a gallon

Diesel gas price increase: 79.0% ($2.65) from a year ago

12. Arkansas

A vehicle is refueled at an Exxon Mobil gas station in Little Rock, Arkansas, US, on Thursday, April 3, 2025. Wall Street economists said the US risks a recession this year and inflation could return to pandemic levels following the Trump administration’s announcement of major tariffs on global trading partners. Photographer: Al

Bloomberg/Getty Images

Regular gas price today : $3.76 a gallon

Regular gas price increase: 44.6% ($1.16) from a year ago

Diesel gas price today : $5.87 a gallon

Diesel gas price increase: 76.7% ($2.55) from a year ago

11. Mississippi

Drivers wait in line to refuel at a gas station after Hurricane Ida in Hancock County, Mississippi, U.S., on Wednesday, Sep. 1, 2021. The electric utility that serves New Orleans has restored power to a small section of the city after Hurricane Ida devastated the region’s grid. Photographer: Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg via Gett

Bloomberg/Getty Images

Regular gas price today : $3.77 a gallon

Regular gas price increase: 45.4% ($1.18) from a year ago

Diesel gas price today : $5.82 a gallon

Diesel gas price increase: 79.0% ($2.57) from a year ago

10. Kentucky

Fuel pumps at a Murphy USA gas station in La Grange, Kentucky, U.S., on Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022. Murphy USA Inc. is expected to release earnings figures on February 2. Photographer: Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Bloomberg/Getty Images

Regular gas price today : $3.89 a gallon

Regular gas price increase: 45.6% ($1.22) from a year ago

Diesel gas price today : $6.11 a gallon

Diesel gas price increase: 79.3% ($2.70) from a year ago

9. Iowa

Bryon Houlgrave/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Regular gas price today : $4.01 a gallon

Regular gas price increase: 46.0% ($1.26) from a year ago

Diesel gas price today : $6.06 a gallon

Diesel gas price increase: 72.4% ($2.54) from a year ago

8. Wyoming

Al Drago/Getty Images

Regular gas price today : $4.30 a gallon

Regular gas price increase: 46.2% ($1.36) from a year ago

Diesel gas price today : $6.35 a gallon

Diesel gas price increase: 78.2% ($2.79) from a year ago

7. Colorado

Michael Ciaglo/For The Washington Post via Getty Images

Regular gas price today : $4.20 a gallon

Regular gas price increase: 47.0% ($1.34) from a year ago

Diesel gas price today : $6.38 a gallon

Diesel gas price increase: 80.9% ($2.85) from a year ago

6. Illinois

Scott Olson/Getty Images

Regular gas price today : $4.71 a gallon

Regular gas price increase: 47.0% ($1.51) from a year ago

Diesel gas price today : $6.62 a gallon

Diesel gas price increase: 76.3% ($2.87) from a year ago

5. Nebraska

Christopher Dilts/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Regular gas price today : $4.16 a gallon

Regular gas price increase: 47.5% ($1.34) from a year ago

Diesel gas price today : $6.11 a gallon

Diesel gas price increase: 78.4% ($2.69) from a year ago

4. New Mexico

Al Drago/Getty Images

Regular gas price today : $4.09 a gallon

Regular gas price increase: 48.1% ($1.33) from a year ago

Diesel gas price today : $6.01 a gallon

Diesel gas price increase: 73.3% ($2.54) from a year ago

3. Oklahoma

Al Drago/Getty Images

Regular gas price today : $3.80 a gallon

Regular gas price increase: 48.3% ($1.24) from a year ago

Diesel gas price today : $5.85 a gallon

Diesel gas price increase: 78.0% ($2.57) from a year ago

2. Michigan

Emily Elconin/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Regular gas price today : $4.52 a gallon

Regular gas price increase: 52.1% ($1.55) from a year ago

Diesel gas price today : $6.66 a gallon

Diesel gas price increase: 78.9% ($2.94) from a year ago

1. Wisconsin

Michael Yanow/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Regular gas price today : $4.23 a gallon

Regular gas price increase: 53.2% ($1.47) from a year ago

Diesel gas price today : $6.31 a gallon

Diesel gas price increase: 80.6% ($2.82) from a year ago

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