Republicans, Democrats Face Uneven Hit From Rising Gas Prices

  • Road trips expected to be near record during holiday weekend
  • Geography, usage and even perception affect gas price politics
Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg
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A gallon of gasoline is the most expensive it has been in seven years, but the once-potent economic indicator doesn’t seem to be putting pressure on President Joe Biden’s energy policies — in part because gas prices hit Democrats and Republicans differently.

Going into the Independence Day weekend, when road trips are expected to near a record, the nationwide average was $3.12 a gallon, according to the American Automobile Association. That’s 44% higher than a year ago, when oil prices were in a free fall because of a glut of supply and pandemic-constrained demand.