Filings reveal how much Trump campaign spent at restaurant where Kamala Harris once worked

Kamala Harris may have worked at McDonald's during college, but Donald Trump loves to eat there.

The Washington Post analyzed Federal Election Commission receipts filed between January 2023 and Sept. 20, 2024 to determine where candidates ate looking at places where they spent at least $5,000 in campaign funds, and they found distinct differences between Democrats' and Republican's preferences.

"So where do the major candidates like to eat?" the reporters asked. "For Trump, the answer is frequently McDonald’s. His campaign is responsible for virtually all the $35,900 federal candidates have spent at the fast food chain since January 2023 — $31,000 or about 86 percent. Overall, Republicans have spent about 28 times as much as Democrats at the Golden Arches, our analysis shows — revealing the Big Mac and the Egg McMuffin as some of the most polarized menu items in American politics."

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Republicans ate more fast food, in general, outspending Democrats 18-to-1 at those types of eateries, and they particularly seem to like Chick-fil-A, where they reported spending more than $200,000 – about 20 times more than Democrats.

"For the Democratic presidential campaigns, the single-most popular fast casual chain during this period was Panera Bread, where Biden and Harris spent over $7,000," the Post reported. "When the campaigns go with fast casual, Republicans and Democrats also go in different directions. Republicans spent more money at Shake Shack, Qdoba and the sandwich joint Jimmy John’s while Democrats are responsible for the majority of campaign spending at Sweetgreen, Corner Bakery and Le Pain Quotidien, a bakery chain known for its quiche and tartines."

Both parties spent about the same amount on Mediterranean fast casual fare from Roti and Cava, but American food was the most popular choice for Democrats and Republicans alike, with about 20 percent of all spending, or about $2.8 million, taking place in restaurants like Ted’s Bulletin in D.C. to southern Mississippi’s Patio 44.

"Steakhouses rank as the top restaurant choice for Republicans and the third most popular among Democrats," the newspaper reported. "But candidates appear to have brand preferences: The Brazilian roasted-meat chain Fogo de Chão was popular with both parties, while the more solidly American Ruth’s Chris and Longhorn steakhouses were more popular among Republicans."

Democrats were far more likely to use platforms such as Uber Eats, DoorDash, Instacart and Grubhub, spending nearly $360,000 for delivery – outspending their GOP rivals by more than $80,000, the report says.