CNN's election-night display paired county fuel-price changes with a Kansas Senate vote snapshot, putting household energy costs beside a contest that could shape control of Congress.
The Independent reported that CNN's map flagged increases of 63% to 73% in several Kansas counties since February. The outlet said the display added fuel-price changes to its election returns.
In a Tuesday-night snapshot, Democratic challenger Adam Hamilton was at 57.8% on CNN's map, against 40.2% for Republican incumbent Sen. Roger Marshall, The Independent reported.
AAA Motor Club put the U.S. average above $4 a gallon, roughly $1 higher than a year earlier. The Independent reported that Democrats emphasized high fuel costs and the Iran conflict while trying to win Republican-held seats.
A Morgan Stanley Wealth Management analysis previously summarized in EconoTimes' coverage of gasoline prices and House losses found that the president's party averaged a 32-seat House loss when gasoline prices rose between January of the year before an election and October of election year. The average loss was six seats when prices declined. The analysis did not isolate fuel's effect from other factors.
