Ocasio-Cortez Campaign’s Puerto Rico Spending Revealed
In Washington, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) has reportedly cut approximately $50,000 in hotel and food expenses during the third quarter of this year, while also renting a venue in San Juan. Notably, she was seen enjoying a Bad Bunny concert in August.
According to federal campaign finance filings, AOC’s primary campaign committee spent $680.52 on accommodations at the upscale Hotel Palacio Provincial on July 28, followed by $1,507.26 on August 29, and a significant $9,440.79 on September 29.
The Palacio Provincial, described as a “first class” and “adults-only” hotel, is situated in a historic building from the early 1800s, and it highlights the structure’s esteemed colonial past in its marketing.
On August 25, she also paid $3,861.20 for a stay at Hotel El Convento, another property with 19th-century charm, as documented in Federal Election Commission records.
Altogether, over $15,489.77 was spent on lodgings in Puerto Rico from July 1 to September 30 during this campaign cycle.
Additionally, at least $10,743.13 was used for meals and catering on August 25 and September 29, as outlined in the same FEC filings.
Ocasio-Cortez, who represents the Bronx and Queens, was seen dancing with Brooklyn Borough Councilwoman Nydia Velasquez at a Bad Bunny concert on August 10, which was part of the artist’s residency tour.
High-profile figures, including NBA superstar LeBron James, hip-hop artist Iggy Azalea, actress Penelope Cruz, and actor Austin Butler, were also present at the concert.
Beyond her concert attendance, Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign spent over $23,000 on venue rentals at Coliseo de Puerto Rico on June 24 and August 25; it remains unclear if these expenses were linked to the Bad Bunny event.
In response to the scrutiny, her campaign manager, Oliver Hidalgo-Walleben, explained that Ocasio-Cortez frequently visits Puerto Rico to engage with local causes, which necessitates the presence of both staff and security. He emphasized her pride in supporting grassroots organizations and her ongoing commitment to the people of the island and the Puerto Rican community in the diaspora.
Throughout the third quarter, the campaign incurred additional substantial costs, including a $6,600 stay at the Hotel Vermont in Burlington, as part of her tour with socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders.
Other expenditures included a $2,000 stay at the Thompson Central Park Hotel in Manhattan, a $3,000 stay at Arlo Williamsburg in Brooklyn, and a notable $6,300 bill for a meal at Ama, a restaurant located in the Navy Yard area of the Capitol.
Moreover, Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign allocated $11,500 to Mr. Ding-Alin, a local ice cream supplier, covering meals in various locations including Washington, D.C., Vermont, the Bronx, and Latham, New York.
