STEP ON THE GAS: Democrats seek to counter GOP attacks on gas prices Democrats are looking to counter GOP attacks on rising gas prices by talking up job gains and wage growth heading into a crucial midterm election year where both the House and Senate are up for grabs. Republicans are hammering Democrats over higher prices at the pump, where a gallon of gas averaged nearly $3.15 on Tuesday with projections of a steady increase as the summer progresses. But Democrats are betting that people are better off now than they were earlier on in the pandemic and won’t hold gas prices against them as the economy recovers.