Retired Army Lt. Col. Maura Keller, the Democratic nominee for Georgia’s 3rd Congressional District, is campaigning on her claim that the Iran conflict and U.S. trade policy are raising household and farm costs.
In an Oct. 31 interview with Hindustan Times, Keller said the conflict had increased farm expenses while Trump administration tariffs were raising grocery and housing costs. “It’s no longer affordability. It’s survivability,” she said. Keller also criticized President Donald Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for what she described as changing explanations, and said the administration had no exit plan.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.6% in September from August on a seasonally adjusted basis. Its 12-month increase was 3.7% before seasonal adjustment. Gasoline rose 9.1% from August, while the food index was unchanged.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) March 19 report described Strait of Hormuz shipping disruption as a contributor to higher fuel costs. It put the U.S. average diesel price at $5.071 per gallon for the week ending March 16, 2026, up 29% in two weeks, and said New Orleans urea prices had risen 37% since the conflict began.
The White House’s March account of Operation Epic Fury said its aims included reducing Iran’s missile forces and production capacity, weakening its navy and support for proxy groups, and preventing it from acquiring a nuclear weapon. The Associated Press reported Oct. 30 that Qatar was involved in mediation aimed at ending the conflict, while diplomats across the region were preparing for a possible return to U.S. military action after the midterms.
Keller has called for a higher federal minimum wage. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) says the $7.25 hourly rate for covered, nonexempt workers took effect July 24, 2009. Georgia Secretary of State results show Keller won the May 19, 2026, Democratic primary with 33,964 votes, compared with 21,882 for George Melville Johnson. In the district’s 2024 general election, Republican Brian Jack received 273,036 votes to Keller’s 138,749.
Georgia’s general election is Tuesday, Nov. 3. The BLS has scheduled the October 2026 CPI release for Nov. 10 at 8:30 a.m. ET.
