Speculated 2028 prez candidate Ruben Gallego blew campaign cash on Super Bowl tickets, Disneyland family travel
WASHINGTON — Freshman Sen. Ruben Gallego, who has cultivated 2028 presidential buzz, blew his campaign war chest on luxury outings, family travel, Super Bowl tickets, and more.Gallego (D-Ariz.) used campaign coffers and PAC money to foot the bill for travel to Disney World, Disneyland, Miami, Chicago, and elsewhere with his family, Federal Election Commission records reveal.“He just spends his campaign account like it’s his personal slush fund,” a source familiar with Gallego’s spending habits told Politico, which first reported on the luxury campaign spending.“He’s using campaign cash to live a luxury lifestyle.”But Gallego’s office insists the spending was all connected to political events and fundraisers, even if he used that money to cover his family’s travel and accommodations in some instances.
In 2023, Gallego tapped into a joint campaign account with his ex-buddy, disgraced former Rep.Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), to attend Super Bowl LVII in Arizona with his wife.
The “Swallego Victory Fund,” which both Gallego and Swalwell set up in October 2022, held a fundraiser at the big game and spent over $37,000 between tickets and meals at The Henry, a restaurant in Phoenix.Their fundraiser cost $5,000 to participate in, and the Democrats raised over $56,000 from it, netting about $8,000 a piece.A spokesperson stressed that Super Bowl tickets were purchased at “fair market value” and noted that it is a common practice to host fundraisers and events at sports games.
Notably, the Swallego Victory Fund stopped raising funds soon thereafter.Gallego, a father of three, had launched his Senate campaign roughly three weeks prior.Other pols have similarly benefited from campaign cash for major outings.President Trump, for instance, has had the Republican National Committee foot the bill for his attendance at a World Series game.
Fellow Arizona Sen.Mark Kelly (D) attended Super Bowl LVII as well, but paid for it himself, according to Politico.G...