BANGOR — Former Maine Secretary of State and current Maine State Auditor Matt Dunlap said his run for the second congressional district is a “people’s campaign.”
In a wide-ranging town hall conversation in Bangor Tuesday night, Dunlap said he will not be accepting money from corporate Political Action Committees and will prioritize issues that matter to Mainers.
“The whole issue about where your money comes from and whether or not you can stay true to yourself is something that is very important for people,” said Dunlap. “[Voters] want to know that you’re going to be working for them, and not some funder, and I think that’s an important distinction.”
Some of the issues Dunlap said he cares about include the cost of living, childcare and Medicare for all.
“The things that I’ve heard most frequently about are some of the things I’ve articulated: the affordability crisis, the healthcare crisis,” said Dunlap. “And when I say affordability, it’s more than just the price of groceries and gasoline. It’s also the ability of people to launch in their lives, buy homes and go to college.”
He continued: “Student debt relief, removing the cap on social security contributions… working on wage stagnation.”
Dunlap will face Democrats State Sen. Joe Baldacci, former congressional staffer Jordan Wood and social worker Paige Loud in the June 9 primary.
The winner of the primary will face former two-term Republican Gov. Paul LePage in November.
On the topic of affordability, LePage has previously said he would cut taxes.
“No tax on tips. No tax on overtime. Tax credits for seniors. That would make a real, lasting impact for Mainers,” LePage said in a January social media post.
LePage has also previously said he would be a voice for Second District Mainers.
“Mainers deserve representation that will listen,” LePage said in a February social media post. “I’ve traveled across Maine for months, and I hear constantly that people across the Second District don’t feel like anyone is listening.
Dunlap also told Spectrum News that the war in Iran is a “terrible situation.”
“The president does not have the legal authority to commit military force without congressional approval, unless it’s for the defense of the country,” said Dunlap. “This is clearly a way of choice that the president wanted.”
LePage called the Iranian regime “dangerous” in a February post.
“Our brave men and women in uniform are currently in operations defending our nation,” LePage said. “For decades Iran has been under the control of a dangerous regime.”
Some voters at the event said they care about getting someone elected who will help to switch Washington’s voting majority from red to blue.
“The most important thing is turning the House of Representatives and the Senate over, turning the presidency over,” said Bangor resident Balenda Ganem.
The LePage campaign's Political Advisor Brent Littlefield told Spectrum News in a statement: "Matt Dunlap has spent nearly his entire adult life living off the taxpayers. Throughout that time he has been part of a political machine which has increased costs on average Mainers while state government grew beyond its means."
Dunlap emphasized his focus on serving Mainers Tuesday night.
“It’s very much a people’s campaign; we’re the people’s agenda,” said Dunlap. “And that’s what we’re always going to stay focused on.”