California Representative Eric Swalwell, a Democrat, has reportedly allocated a substantial portion of his campaign funds towards purchasing Super Bowl tickets and related expenses at the event’s venue, as indicated by records from the Federal Election Commission (FEC) examined by Fox News Digital.
Swalwell’s presence at the Super Bowl, donned in San Francisco 49ers gear, was documented in an Instagram story on February 11, raising speculation about the origin of his tickets, especially in light of his previously reported significant debts.
The FEC pre-primary report from Swalwell’s committee, detailing financial activities from January to mid-February, reveals a nearly $22,000 expenditure on “event tickets” from the Forty Niners Football Company, LLC, or the San Francisco 49ers, listed as a fundraising expense on February 6.
In addition, the records show Swalwell’s campaign reimbursed 49ers co-owner Gideon Yu $962 for tickets on February 8 and logged over $100 in expenses at Allegiant Stadium, the Super Bowl’s venue where the 49ers faced the Kansas City Chiefs. A notable payment of $30,900 was made to the “Las Vegas Raiders,” the NFL team based at Allegiant Stadium, labeled as “Event Tickets for Fundraising Event.” The campaign also incurred nearly $3,000 in costs for “food and beverages” at Alexxa’s Las Vegas, a dining establishment situated on the Las Vegas Strip, as per the filing.
Requests for comments on these expenditures, initially highlighted by the Washington Free Beacon, were not addressed by Swalwell’s campaign.
Swalwell’s campaign has a history of investing in premium items and accommodations. Prior to the Super Bowl-related expenses, the campaign had spent $1,560 on “Fundraising Event Tickets” at Aramark at Lincoln Financial Field, home to the Philadelphia Eagles, on December 4, coinciding with a game against the 49ers the previous day.
Additionally, recent FEC filings reveal Swalwell’s campaign expenditures of over $3,000 at the Loews Hotel Miami Beach, known for its spa and dining options, and nearly $1,000 at Mila Miami Beach, a venue offering upscale Mediterranean & Japanese cuisine.
Fox News Digital reported that Swalwell’s campaign dedicated more than $90,000 to travel expenses in the final quarter of 2023, including a stay at Dubai’s luxurious Burj Al Arab Hotel. Swalwell’s international campaign spending patterns have previously included significant outlays at hotels and eateries in London and Germany, with his committee employing just three salaried staff members.