Sen. Ruben Gallego defends campaign spending
Senator Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) is standing by the travel and fundraising events funded by his campaign, especially his jaunt to the Super Bowl and a trip to Miami, arguing that these were necessary efforts to gather funds for his political campaign. This comes after reports surfaced detailing how his political committee covered costs for luxury travel, childcare, and event expenses.
When confronted about the spending, Gallego remarked to Fox News Digital, “To raise money, we have to go where the money is.”
Reports indicate that Gallego tapped into his leadership PAC for various upscale trips, including destinations like Miami, St. Barthelemy, Disneyland, Disney World, and Chicago. According to Politico, sources close to Gallego noted that the senator frequently utilized campaign funds for family trips, even covering babysitting services for his children with donor money.
Additionally, records from the Federal Election Commission revealed that Gallego collaborated with former Rep. Eric Swalwell, who resigned amid allegations of sexual assault, to fundraise for tickets to the Super Bowl for himself and his wife.
Gallego explained that his Super Bowl venture was part of the Swalrego Victory Fund, which he co-sponsored. “The Super Bowl was in Arizona, and I represent Arizona,” he stated. “We did a Super Bowl fundraiser in Arizona to raise money for my campaign in 2023. That’s your job.”
This event took place at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, just weeks after Gallego announced his Senate candidacy. Tickets were priced at $5,000, with an extra $1,000 for a pregame brunch, as noted from an invitation acquired by Politico.
The event cost over $37,000, with both lawmakers pocketing about $8,000 each before canceling the joint committee meeting post-game. A Gallego spokesperson claimed to Politico that “tickets were purchased at fair market value” and emphasized that inviting donors and supporters to such events was standard practice across party lines.
“There are a lot of people who do fundraisers at golf tournaments, NASCAR, IndyCar, etc.,” Gallego stated. “So this is exactly the same thing.”
Moreover, Gallego used PAC funds for a Miami trip that happened to coincide with his wife, Sidney Gallego’s birthday. Their stay at the Loews Hotel in Miami Beach ran over $9,000. “We raised about $50,000 over nine events in Miami,” he noted.
A spokesperson for Gallego mentioned that the couple “participated in several widely attended political events and fundraisers” during their Miami visit but didn’t clarify further about the birthday aspect of the trip.
While federal campaign funds typically cannot be used for personal expenses, FEC regulations permit campaign-related travel, meals at fundraising events, and childcare costs directly linked to campaign activities. If personal and campaign travel overlap, a refund may be necessary for the personal portion.
