A swanky spot long anchoring Rush Street and the Gold Coast, Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse describes itself online as “a Chicago icon” that, besides its tasty Angus beef, offers “fresh fish, classic cocktails, an extensive wine list and exceptional service.”
“Celebrities, Chicago visitors and loyal neighborhood residents enjoy our three distinct locations: Chicago, Rosemont and Oak Brook.”
What could be added to Gibsons’ marketing materials: They’re also a huge draw for politicians, with Illinois campaign funds spending more than $1.8 million at the establishments — including Gibsons Italia in the West Loop — on fundraising events, meetings and meals since the 1990s, according to a review of Illinois State Board of Elections disclosure records that also shows:
- Roughly $900,000 was spent by campaign funds over the last two decades at Harry Caray’s restaurants, with the main locale just north of the Chicago River at 33 W. Kinzie St.
- More than $800,000 was spent at the Rosebud restaurants, with its signature spot long situated in Little Italy.
- Erie Cafe, at 536 W. Erie St., has been paid more than $450,000 by campaign funds dating to the late 1990s — with former Cook County Assessor Joseph Berrios’ political accounts responsible for roughly a third of that tally.
- Petterino’s, in the Downtown theater district, was paid more than $400,000, while RPM restaurants in the Loop were paid a similar amount.
- Chicago Cut Steakhouse, 300 N. LaSalle St., collected more than $300,000.
Among the restaurants where Illinois campaign funds have spent heavily: Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse (top left), Chicago Cut Steakhouse (top right), Erie Cafe (bottom left) and Saputo’s (bottom right.) All are in Chicago except Saputo’s, which is in Springfield.
Anthony Vazquez, Matt Trunfio / Sun-Times
In Springfield, the state capital where food options are limited, Saputo’s got around $650,000 in campaign spending.
So far this year, more than $200,000 was spent by campaign funds on what was described as a “meal,” according to the elections board. In 2025, the total was around $900,000.
But it’s not all fancy eating, according to the Chicago Sun-Times review.
More than 10,000 state and local campaign expenses dating back three decades, and totaling more than $3 million, involve expenditures at establishments with “pizza” in their name, records show.
More than $170,000 was spent at one of Chicago’s iconic deep-dish chains, Lou Malnati’s, while another $90,000 was spent at Giordano’s, records show.
More than $500,000 was spent at Subway sandwich shops, more than $200,000 at Panera and more than $90,000 at Portillo’s, the Italian beef chain.
More than $60,000 was spent on Uber Eats, the food delivery service.
Then there’s Hooters, a chain known for scantily clad waitresses, and chicken wings.
Illinois campaign funds spent more than $50,000 at Hooters locales since 2001 — with more than $40,000 of that spent at a Lansing franchise by state Rep. Thaddeus Jones, a Democrat who doubles as mayor of Calumet City.
Jones’ political accounts spent a similar amount at Chicago Cut over more than a decade. Jones’ campaigns also spent nearly $10,000 with Uber Eats over the last two years.
Federal authorities have been investigating his potential misuse of campaign money, records show, but the status of that investigation is unclear, and Jones couldn’t be reached for comment.
Because of Illinois’ relatively lax election regulations for politicians, campaign money can be spent on virtually anything, so long as there is a political or governmental purpose. In other words, those campaign funds can’t be used as a personal piggy bank to augment a lifestyle.
Some political figures have noted that campaign spending doesn’t involve taxpayer money so, essentially, it doesn’t matter how it’s spent.
Except that campaign cash is often raised only by virtue of a politician’s government position — and the more powerful the political figure, the more campaign money is often thrown their way by special interests craving influence.
If politicians are essentially living off their campaign funds and not paying income taxes on that, they could also face the wrath of the IRS.
Either way, it’s difficult to police whether a meal or a drink — or virtually any campaign spending in Illinois — is appropriate.
When reporting campaign spending to election regulators, political funds are generally vague as to the “purpose” of expenses, and they’re not required to get into any great detail.
Over the last decade, “meal” was a stated purpose in Illinois election disclosure reports for more than $6 million in campaign spending. Other campaigns have reported visits to restaurants in other ways, including as “meetings.”
Significant expenses also go to restaurants at times for large fundraisers, records show.
Campaign funds for another suburban mayor, Elmwood Park’s Angelo “Skip” Saviano, have spent more than $250,000 on what’s described in his disclosure reports as “meals and entertainment” since 2013, including expenditures of more than $60,000 at Gibsons locations and over $25,000 at Chicago Cut that date back even longer.
In March, one of his campaign accounts listed a $352 expense at the Red Barn club in Palm Desert, Calif. It’s described on its web site as a “legendary watering hole” dating to the 1950s “where the crews of Gene Autry and Hopalong Cassidy films, Frank Sinatra and the Pack as well as other Hollywood legends like Lucy and Desi came to kick back and cut loose.”
A spokesman for Saviano, who served for years as a Republican state legislator, said the tab covered a gathering involving government officials.
The spokesman called Saviano “a very prolific and successful fundraiser” for various political figures and causes, and that means “we have to have places that are very nice to attract people to come to give at these” events.
“A lot of these people aren’t going to come if it’s hotdogs and popcorn at the VFW,” he said.
As for standard meals, Saviano has had his campaign cover those in some instances so that the person he’s dining with, if they represent a special interest, won’t pick up the tab which could later lead to questions about “influence,” according to the spokesman.
Among the larger spenders at Gibsons were Citizens for Christopher Getty and the United Citizens Party, campaign accounts benefiting Lyons’ mayor that spent more than $400,000 at its establishments.
All told, since 2014 Getty’s funds made almost 100 expenditures, mostly at the Oak Brook location, including one from earlier this year totaling more than $50,000 to cover what disclosure records say is “fundraising — hall rental, food, beverages.”
That covered a February fundraising event at Gibsons at which he announced he’s running for the congressional seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia (D-Ill.)
First elected mayor of the southwest suburb in 2009, Getty’s campaign spending reflects other fundraisers, too, but also dozens of expenses for meals or meetings at Gibsons, records show.
“Most of that comes from organized fundraisers . . . and larger-scale events,” Getty said, noting there were 700 people at the February gathering.
He said other times his campaign funds cover a meal tab for volunteers and staff — whether by ordering pizza, or at a restaurant — to show appreciation for their dedication and hard work.
Getty said there is always a political purpose behind the spending.
Campaign funds affiliated with another suburban mayor, Rosemont’s Brad Stephens, spent nearly $180,000 at Gibsons in that near northwest suburb over the past nine years, including almost $35,000 in February for “food/beverage for fundraiser.”
Other expenses included gift cards and “dinner with Bandits players,” a reference to the pro softball team that plays in Rosemont.
A Stephens spokesman says, “It’s normal” — and allowable — “political activity.”
Stephens is also a Republican state representative.
The leader of that chamber, Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch (D-Hillside), saw his main campaign fund, People for Emanuel Chris Welch, spend more than $7,000 in total at Gibsons since 2021.
That includes $531 spent at the Rush Street locale in January, with “meals” the only description of the expense. Neither Welch nor his aides could be reached.
Welch’s campaign fund also has been a recent spender at Chicago Cut, known for its meats, wines and ambience.
Until last August, there were apparently no payments from Welch’s campaign to Chicago Cut. But since then, the campaign paid for 11 meals at Chicago Cut totaling nearly $2,000.
Three of Welch’s visits were in 2026 and eight in 2025, with the bills ranging from more than $50 to $300 — which, by Chicago Cut’s prices, isn’t bad, no matter how you cut it.
After all, there’s a $99 bone-in 16-ounce filet on the menu, along with a $79 dijon herb-crusted rack of lamb.
All told, the Welch fund has spent more than $100,000 on what’s categorized as meals over the last four years.
Campaign funds for state Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) spent more than $230,000 on meals over the last two decades, from Panera and Domino’s Pizza to Vele, a Springfield restaurant that has received nearly $18,000 from Friends of Don Harmon for State Senate since 2022.
A Harmon campaign spokesman explains, “The Senate president frequently hosts member dinners with a half a dozen folks at a time to discuss legislation, concerns in their districts and family life.”
Meantime, the campaign funds for members of Congress from Illinois also at times made expenditures at restaurants back home, or in Washington, D.C., for fundraisers, meals and the like.
Overall, more than $40,000 was collectively spent at Chicago Cut, while about $25,000 was spent at the Capital Grille in Washington, according to Federal Election Commission records.