Minnesota Senate Candidate’s “Starbucks” Remark Stirs Debate Over Gas Prices

During a March radio interview that resurfaced online, Republican Senate nominee Michele Tafoya suggested that cutting a daily Starbucks habit could stretch gasoline farther. The comment was framed as a personal finance tip amid broader concerns about rising fuel costs.

Rolling Stone

The remark arrived as many Americans confront higher gasoline and fertilizer prices attributed to the United States’ involvement in the Iran war. Commentators note that the median age of first-time homebuyers has climbed to 40, reflecting a widening gap between wages and living costs. The political backdrop includes President Donald Trump’s second term, during which critics say the administration’s foreign policy has contributed to the fuel price spike.

Rolling Stone

• Peggy Flanagan, Minnesota lieutenant governor and Democratic Senate candidate, called the war in Iran “illegal” and said it has “devastated folks” by raising gas and fertilizer prices. She linked the conflict directly to the economic strain facing voters.

Rolling Stone

• Christina Pushaw, communications advisor to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, mocked the notion that forgoing Starbucks could meaningfully aid home-ownership. She calculated that a $2,000 annual Starbucks spend would require “only 40 years” to equal a median-home down payment in 2026, and criticized “millionaire politicians” for offering such advice while the federal government accrues “trillions in debt.”

Rolling Stone

• “Stiff upper lip. Maybe you take one less trip to Starbucks and so that gas goes a little further,” — Michele Tayofa

Rolling Stone