OPINION: The ‘blue tsunami:’ America runs on diesel

The term ‘blue tsunami’ has been used to describe the sweeping Democratic victory in the 2026 midterms earlier this month. Democrats flipped Republican-held Senate seats in Maine, South Carolina, Ohio, Texas, Kansas and Iowa; they now hold majorities in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, exceeding some of the most ambitious poll projections to give them a stronger legislative check on the presidency. Pundits have cited several reasons for the victory, from Trump’s low approval ratings to military interventions abroad. However, compelling statistics point to a reason for the flip in rural precincts: the cost of diesel. Over the past few years, diesel prices have spiked, starting with the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Drone strikes on energy infrastructure in Russia, one of the world’s largest diesel exporters, have constantly knocked out a substantial portion of their refining capacity and consequently restricted exports.

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