Americans are heading to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 3, facing the highest gasoline prices ever recorded on a U.S. Election Day, with the national average reaching $4.15 per gallon under President Donald Trump’s administration.
According to AAA, regular gasoline averaged $4.15 nationally Tuesday, surpassing the previous Election Day record of approximately $3.80 in 2022. The U.S. Energy Information Administration also confirmed the record, reporting a national weekly average of $4.153 compared with $3.796 during the 2022 midterm election week. The figures are not adjusted for inflation.
Ohio drivers are paying an average of $4.08 per gallon, up from $2.91 a year ago — an increase of approximately 40%. In the Toledo metropolitan area, which includes much of Northwest Ohio’s regional economy, gasoline averages $4.03 per gallon.
The elevated prices persist despite Ohio’s temporary suspension of its 38.5-cent-per-gallon gasoline tax. Gov. Mike DeWine signed House Bill 519 on Oct. 1, establishing a 90-day fuel tax holiday that runs through Jan. 2, 2027. The measure uses $725 million in state reserve funds to offset the lost tax revenue.
Gasoline prices have climbed sharply during Trump’s second term amid the war in the Middle East. The federal Energy Information Administration has documented higher crude oil prices and refinery margins as the conflict continues to disrupt global energy markets.
Although prices have declined from their September highs, Tuesday’s Election Day record comes as voters decide control of Congress and numerous state and local offices, with the cost of living remaining a major issue nationwide.
