Gallego used campaign funds for family travel and Super Bowl

Senator Ruben Gallego of Arizona used campaign and leadership PAC funds to pay for family travel, child care expenses, and a Super Bowl event, according to a review of federal campaign finance records. The spending, which dates back to 2019, has drawn scrutiny as Gallego is considered a potential presidential candidate for 2028.

The records show Gallego’s leadership PAC, JUNTOS PAC, funded trips involving his family to destinations including Miami, Chicago, Disney World, Disneyland, and St. Barts. The PAC and his main campaign committee also disbursed more than $18,000 in child care reimbursements, including a $400 payment to his mother-in-law for babysitting during a fundraiser.

On one occasion in February 2023, Gallego used a joint fundraising committee with former Representative Eric Swalwell to attend Super Bowl LVII in Glendale, Arizona, with his wife. The event, billed as a fundraiser for the "Swallego Victory Fund," charged $5,000 per ticket and raised over $56,000. The committee spent approximately $34,700 on event tickets and about $2,700 on a pregame brunch.

Gallego did not dispute the expenditures. In a statement, he said, "This is not breaking news," adding that with...