It takes a lot of money — and food — to win elections.
Campaigns are allowed to spend their funds on a wide range of expenses, according to the Federal Election Commission, as long as it has some connection with influencing the election of the candidate. Generally, that covers advertising costs, hotel stays and car rentals, and office supplies.
And for most, campaigns and chow go hand-in-hand.
Nearly every congressional candidate in Orange County spent significant portions of their campaign funds on food-related costs this campaign cycle, according to an analysis of financial disclosure forms by the Orange County Register.
The expenses cover the period from the start of the election cycle, Nov. 9, 2022, up to Oct. 16.
Korean barbecue, Sweetgreen, pizza, fast food joints and grocery stores dominate the dining decisions for the 12 House candidates in Orange County. Candidates are stopping for bites at local restaurants as well as popular haunts in Washington, D.C.
Here’s a look at where the candidates ate — and how their dining expenses stacked up with other campaign costs.
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Most of the campaign cash Rep. Linda Sánchez spent on food, fundraisers and other events — about $105,330 in total — went toward restaurants out of state. She frequently catered from and ate at fine dining spots including 57 Ocean Prime and Charlie Palmer Steak in Washington, D.C., spending just over $7,000 at those two restaurants.
Other places the campaign catered from included French restaurant Bistro Cacao, the Duck and Peach and Osteria Morini, all in D.C. At those three spots, the campaign spent more than $11,500.
Back home in California, Sánchez most often visited Dal Rae Restaurant, a family-owned steakhouse in Pico Rivera.
Eric Ching, former Walnut mayor, reported around $42,141 for food expenses. Nearly 70% of that was spent at Happy Harbor Restaurant, a Chinese banquet-style seafood restaurant in Rowland Heights.
Ching: Raised $233,648 ($23,000 in personal loans),…
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