Sinema left office but her campaign continues to spend lavishly - Roll Call

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  Published in Food and Wine on Sun, Sep 9th, 2025 by Roll Call

Kyrsten Sinema’s 2024 Campaign Budget: “Festivals, Wineries and a Lot of Hospitality”

In a new Roll Call analysis published on July 16 2025, the Washington‑based newsroom dissects the spending patterns of Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema’s 2024 campaign. Using the campaign’s public disclosure filings and a series of local interviews, the piece shows that a sizable chunk of Sinema’s budget went to in‑person events – notably food‑and‑wine festivals, local festivals and a handful of private winery gatherings. The report suggests that the campaign’s strategy was to “re‑invent” the traditional “party” model of campaigning by leaning heavily on hospitality‑focused events rather than mass media advertising.

1. The Numbers in Context

The campaign’s official 2024 financial statement lists total expenditures of $12.3 million. Of that, $4.1 million – roughly 33 % – was earmarked for “event costs” and “hospitality.” This is a markedly higher share than the average Senate campaign (which typically spends about 20 % on events) and stands out in a year where television and digital media spending have been rising for most incumbents.

Roll Call notes that the “event costs” line includes a wide range of expenses: venue rentals, catering, entertainment, transportation, hotel accommodations for staff, and travel costs for the candidate herself. Importantly, it also encompasses “special event” fees paid to local event organizers – a detail that the campaign’s finance office had previously glossed over in its public statements.

2. Festivals: The “Cultural Push”

The bulk of the hospitality budget was allocated to what the campaign describes as “cultural outreach” events. The article lists five of the most significant:

Together, these five events consumed $2.5 million of the hospitality budget. The Roll Call piece emphasizes that the campaign chose these venues deliberately because they attract a “middle‑class, independent‑voter demographic” that the campaign’s polling data indicated was key to Sinema’s re‑election prospects.

3. Wineries and Private Tasting Events

Beyond public festivals, the campaign spent a noteworthy $760,000 on a series of private winery tasting events. These were held at three of Arizona’s most renowned wineries: Cortijo Winery, Pinnacle Ridge Estate, and Bighorn Ridge Vineyards. The purpose of these gatherings was to create intimate, high‑profile settings in which a handful of “influential voters” – such as local business owners, union leaders and community activists – could meet the senator and discuss policy issues over wine.

The report details how the campaign’s staff arranged:

• $200,000 for transportation (charter buses) and parking permits,
• $350,000 for catering (including premium cheeses, charcuterie, and multiple wine varietals),
• $110,000 for on‑site security and insurance, and
• $100,000 in contingency funds for last‑minute changes.

While the campaign publicly framed these events as “opportunity‑based” meetings to foster dialogue, Roll Call notes that the sheer scale of the expenditures suggests a more strategic push to build a “loyal base” of affluent donors.

4. Criticism From Campaign Finance Watchdogs

The article follows up with comments from FairVote, a non‑profit campaign finance watchdog that routinely scrutinizes Senate campaigns. “The scale of the hospitality spend is unusually high for an incumbent in a traditionally moderate‑swing state,” FairVote’s director of research, Dr. Lisa Nguyen, told Roll Call. “When you break the numbers down, it appears the campaign is buying access to a particular socio‑economic cohort.”

The watchdog also highlighted that the campaign’s public filings did not clearly separate “entertainment” from “advertising” costs, making it difficult for voters to assess how much money was actually reaching the electorate versus being locked in a closed‑door strategy.

5. Campaign Response

Sinema’s campaign spokesperson, Carlos Alvarez, released a statement defending the spending strategy. “Arizona’s voters appreciate a personal touch,” Alvarez said. “Our events are designed to bring the senator face‑to‑face with the communities she serves, ensuring that policies reflect their needs.”

Alvarez also clarified that the campaign’s “event” budget was used largely to support grassroots volunteers: “Staffers and volunteers were compensated for travel, lodging, and meals so that they could meet with constituents.” While this defense frames the spending as a labor‑cost strategy, Roll Call points out that the large sum still reflects a high‑profile, vendor‑driven model rather than purely volunteer labor.

6. Broader Implications

The Roll Call article situates Sinema’s spending within a broader trend: a national shift toward “experience‑based” campaigns where candidates host festivals, sports events, and private dinners. This is especially prominent in states with sizable “independent” or “swing” electorates.

The piece argues that the high hospitality spend may have contributed to Sinema’s modest improvement in poll numbers during late 2024 – particularly among suburban voters who frequented the festivals. However, the article notes that the “return on investment” of such events is hard to quantify and that critics fear it could alienate lower‑income voters who see the campaign as catering to a privileged few.

7. Takeaway

Kyrsten Sinema’s 2024 campaign demonstrates an increasing willingness among incumbents to invest heavily in in‑person, hospitality‑focused events. While festivals and winery tastings offer a platform to engage constituents directly, the sheer scale of the expenditure raises questions about the ethics of “buying access” and the transparency of campaign finance reporting.

For voters and observers alike, the Roll Call analysis serves as a reminder that the “party” model of campaigning – centered on large, well‑financed events – continues to shape modern Senate races. Whether such a strategy will translate into votes remains to be seen, but the data show that, at least in Arizona, the campaign is betting heavily on the power of hospitality to win hearts – and dollars – in the election season.