BANGOR — Second Congressional District candidate Matt Dunlap said Thursday Mainers are being hammered by high prices for food and heating oil.
He said if he’s elected to Congress, he would support cracking down on companies that gouge consumers, push to add more food safety inspectors and vote to end the war in Iran to bring down oil prices.
“Groceries have actually risen 30.4% since January of 2020 and that rise is squeezing Mainers everywhere,” he said.
For example, he said ground beef is up 23% since the start of 2025 and coffee is up 32%.
Dunlap, a Democrat who serves as State Auditor, is facing former two-term Republican Gov. Paul LePage in the Nov. 3 election. The 2nd District seat is wide open following the retirement of U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, a Democrat.
On his campaign website, LePage highlights his emphasis on lowering costs and tackling inflation by eliminating “wasteful spending which drove up inflation under Biden.”
At a campaign office in Bangor, Dunlap talked about recent outbreaks of food borne illnesses.
“In 2025 and this year, we’re starting to be afraid of the grocery store,” he said, noting outbreaks in eggs, frozen blueberries and lettuce that sickened thousands across the country.
He said federal cuts have made the government slower to respond, and a lack of staff means the outbreaks are harder to trace.
When it comes to anti-gouging legislation, he said world events often immediately lead to higher prices.
“When you have an announcement of an egg recall, all of a sudden the price of eggs doubles, so that’s something we have to keep an eye on to make sure things are fair for our customers,” he said.
Dunlap, a former state lawmaker, also described the double-whammy facing Mainers this winter, with high heating oil prices alongside continued high prices for food.
“We’re looking at $100 dollars’ worth of groceries a few years ago now costing $130 and if your wages aren’t going up then you have to cut somewhere else,” he said.