Gallego Used Campaign Funds for Family Travel, Super Bowl Tickets, According to Records
The establishment of the legal defense fund has raised questions about Gallego's potential legal exposure, particularly in relation to his association with Swalwell. While Gallego has distanced himself from the disgraced former congressman, their joint campaign account and Gallego's attendance at the 2023 Super Bowl with Swalwell have drawn scrutiny.
Gallego's use of campaign funds for personal expenses has also sparked concerns about his judgment and ability to manage finances, potentially jeopardizing his future political ambitions. The FEC's rules on campaign finance allow for a significant amount of discretion, but Gallego's liberal interpretation of these rules may ultimately prove to be a liability.
As Gallego navigates the complexities of his political future, his team's decision to bring on Andrew Bates, a seasoned communications expert, suggests a recognition of the potential risks and challenges ahead. With the 2028 presidential election looming, Gallego's ability to withstand scrutiny and demonstrate transparency in his financial dealings will be crucial in determining his viability as a candidate.
The use of campaign funds for events like the Super Bowl has raised questions about the blurring of lines between personal and campaign expenses. Gallego's attendance at the 2023 Super Bowl, where tickets cost $5,000, has drawn particular scrutiny. The event was organized by the "Swallego Victory Fund," a joint committee established by Gallego and Swalwell in October 2022. According to FEC records, the committee raised $56,505, with the majority of the funds coming in the days leading up to the Super Bowl.
The committee's expenses included $34,700 for event tickets and $2,715 at a Phoenix restaurant, The Henry. A Gallego spokesperson defended the event, stating that it was a common practice for politicians to host donors and supporters at sporting events. However, the fact that Gallego and Swalwell each received $7,643.89 from the joint committee has raised eyebrows.
The shutdown of the "Swallego Victory Fund" on January 1, 2025, has also sparked interest. The committee's closure came after it had stopped raising money in March 2023. The distribution of the remaining funds, with each candidate receiving a significant amount, has led to questions about the purpose of the joint committee.
In contrast to Gallego, other politicians have chosen to pay for their own tickets to high-profile events. Senator Mark Kelly, a Democrat from Arizona, attended the 2023 Super Bowl at his own expense. Similarly, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani recently emphasized that he had personally paid for his tickets to an NBA finals game.
Gallego's own comments on the affordability of Super Bowl tickets have also come under scrutiny. In an X post, he highlighted the high cost of tickets, stating that they had become a "luxury bill." However, his attendance at the 2023 Super Bowl, where tickets cost $5,000, has led to accusations of hypocrisy.
The establishment of Gallego's leadership PAC, "JUNTOS PAC," in February 2024, has also raised questions about his campaign finances. The PAC has raised nearly $1.5 million, with more than half of the funds coming from corporate PACs. Gallego has used these funds for campaign and fundraising-related travel, sparking concerns about the influence of corporate money in politics.
Gallego's use of campaign funds for family travel and expenses has sparked concerns about the blurring of personal and campaign finances. According to a person familiar with his spending, Gallego has used PAC money to pay for his family's trips, including retreats at Disney World and Disneyland, where his wife, children, and their au pair accompanied him. The costs for these trips, including meals and hotels, totaled nearly $1,500, not including flights.
The Gallegos have also used PAC funds to travel to St. Barts for Sydney Gallego's boss' birthday and to Miami for her own birthday, staying at a Loews hotel on Miami Beach that cost over $9,000. Additionally, when Gallego traveled to Chicago's Little Village neighborhood to denounce the federal immigration crackdown, his family stayed in a vacation rental that cost the PAC nearly $1,500.
A Gallego spokesperson stated that all of these trips included fundraising activity, describing the St. Barts trip as part of a "multi-stop political and fundraising swing." The spokesperson also mentioned that Gallego hosted a fundraiser in Chicago and attended several political events and fundraisers in Miami.
Records show that Gallego's campaign committee and leadership PAC have disbursed over $18,000 in child care reimbursements and direct payments to an au pair company. This includes a $400 payment to Sydney Gallego's mother for "Babysitting while at [a] campaign fundraiser." The family has also used campaign funds to fly between Washington and Phoenix 13 times in 2025.
A person familiar with Gallego's spending noted a pattern of using campaign funds for personal expenses, saying that Sydney Gallego "just basically rides [Ruben Gallego's] wave." This has raised questions about the extent to which Gallego is using campaign funds for personal benefit, rather than solely for campaign-related activities.
Gallego's use of campaign funds for personal expenses has also sparked concerns about his judgment and ability to manage finances, potentially jeopardizing his future political ambitions. The FEC's rules on campaign finance allow for a significant amount of discretion, but Gallego's liberal interpretation of these rules may ultimately prove to be a liability.
As Gallego navigates the complexities of his political future, his team's decision to bring on Andrew Bates, a seasoned communications expert, suggests a recognition of the potential risks and challenges ahead. With the 2028 presidential election looming, Gallego's ability to withstand scrutiny and demonstrate transparency in his financial dealings will be crucial in determining his viability as a candidate.
The use of campaign funds for events like the Super Bowl has raised questions about the blurring of lines between personal and campaign expenses. Gallego's attendance at the 2023 Super Bowl, where tickets cost $5,000, has drawn particular scrutiny. The event was organized by the "Swallego Victory Fund," a joint committee established by Gallego and Swalwell in October 2022. According to FEC records, the committee raised $56,505, with the majority of the funds coming in the days leading up to the Super Bowl.
The committee's expenses included $34,700 for event tickets and $2,715 at a Phoenix restaurant, The Henry. A Gallego spokesperson defended the event, stating that it was a common practice for politicians to host donors and supporters at sporting events. However, the fact that Gallego and Swalwell each received $7,643.89 from the joint committee has raised eyebrows.
The shutdown of the "Swallego Victory Fund" on January 1, 2025, has also sparked interest. The committee's closure came after it had stopped raising money in March 2023. The distribution of the remaining funds, with each candidate receiving a significant amount, has led to questions about the purpose of the joint committee.
In contrast to Gallego, other politicians have chosen to pay for their own tickets to high-profile events. Senator Mark Kelly, a Democrat from Arizona, attended the 2023 Super Bowl at his own expense. Similarly, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani recently emphasized that he had personally paid for his tickets to an NBA finals game.
Gallego's own comments on the affordability of Super Bowl tickets have also come under scrutiny. In an X post, he highlighted the high cost of tickets, stating that they had become a "luxury bill." However, his attendance at the 2023 Super Bowl, where tickets cost $5,000, has led to accusations of hypocrisy.
The establishment of Gallego's leadership PAC, "JUNTOS PAC," in February 2024, has also raised questions about his campaign finances. The PAC has raised nearly $1.5 million, with more than half of the funds coming from corporate PACs. Gallego has used these funds for campaign and fundraising-related travel, sparking concerns about the influence of corporate money in politics.
Gallego's use of campaign funds for family travel and expenses has sparked concerns about the blurring of personal and campaign finances. According to a person familiar with his spending, Gallego has used PAC money to pay for his family's trips, including retreats at Disney World and Disneyland, where his wife, children, and their au pair accompanied him. The costs for these trips, including meals and hotels, totaled nearly $1,500, not including flights.
The Gallegos have also used PAC funds to travel to St. Barts for Sydney Gallego's boss' birthday and to Miami for her own birthday, staying at a Loews hotel on Miami Beach that cost over $9,000. Additionally, when Gallego traveled to Chicago's Little Village neighborhood to denounce the federal immigration crackdown, his family stayed in a vacation rental that cost the PAC nearly $1,500.
A Gallego spokesperson stated that all of these trips included fundraising activity, describing the St. Barts trip as part of a "multi-stop political and fundraising swing." The spokesperson also mentioned that Gallego hosted a fundraiser in Chicago and attended several political events and fundraisers in Miami.
Records show that Gallego's campaign committee and leadership PAC have disbursed over $18,000 in child care reimbursements and direct payments to an au pair company. This includes a $400 payment to Sydney Gallego's mother for "Babysitting while at [a] campaign fundraiser." The family has also used campaign funds to fly between Washington and Phoenix 13 times in 2025.
A person familiar with Gallego's spending noted a pattern of using campaign funds for personal expenses, saying that Sydney Gallego "just basically rides [Ruben Gallego's] wave." This has raised questions about the extent to which Gallego is using campaign funds for personal benefit, rather than solely for campaign-related activities.
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