Hilton Head bartender and waiter Matt Fulmer has launched a congressional campaign, saying rising costs and political influence by wealthy donors have pushed basic elements of the American Dream out of reach for many Americans.
Fulmer, who is running as a Democrat, said increasing prices for housing, food, health care and education have left working families struggling, while wages fail to keep pace. He argues that Americans who do not already own homes or significant assets face growing barriers to starting families, saving for retirement or achieving long-term financial stability.
“While the value of a day’s labor keeps going down, the value of Wall Street portfolios keeps going up,” Fulmer said in a campaign statement, criticizing what he describes as the consolidation of wealth and political power among a small segment of society.
Fulmer’s platform focuses on reducing the cost of living and limiting the influence of money in politics. His proposals include targeting corporate monopolies, shifting taxation away from wages and toward assets, and expanding public programs for health care, child care and higher education. He also supports banning stock trading by elected officials, limiting contributions to super PACs, and creating public matching funds for small-dollar political donations.
On election reform, Fulmer has called for ranked-choice voting, limits on gerrymandering, and the creation of multi-member congressional districts, arguing that such changes would strengthen democracy and make room for more political parties and independent candidates.
Fulmer said his campaign is part of a broader national movement of first-time candidates who are running in response to economic pressure and frustration with the two-party system. He argues that working people must play a central role in shaping public policy.
Campaign materials emphasize a vision of expanded access to health care, housing and education, along with reforms aimed at reducing the influence of corporate money in government.
More information about Fulmer’s campaign is available at fulmerforcongress.com.