Steve Garvey’s U.S. Senate Campaign Pays Son $32,500 as Campaign Consultant

The U.S. Senate campaign of Steve Garvey, the Republican nominee for a California Senate seat, has come under scrutiny for payments made to his son, Ryan Garvey, who serves as a campaign consultant. According to a campaign report filed with the Federal Election Commission, Ryan Garvey has been paid $32,500 since December for his consulting services.

While it is unclear if the Ryan Garvey listed in the report is indeed the candidate’s son, the address listed matches that of the candidate in Palm Desert. The Garvey campaign has not responded to requests for comment or clarification on the matter.

Campaign finance experts note that it is not uncommon for family members to be paid for campaign services, as long as the payments reflect fair market value for the services provided. The FEC guidelines state that any payments to family members in excess of fair market value could be considered personal use.

In contrast, Garvey’s opponent, Rep. Adam Schiff, has not paid any family members for campaign services, according to his FEC report. Schiff himself has received reimbursements for travel and equipment expenses.

Despite raising a significant amount of campaign funds, Garvey trails behind Schiff in terms of cash on hand. Polls also show Schiff with a comfortable lead in the race, as Garvey faces challenges in a heavily Democratic state.

As the campaign continues, the payments to Ryan Garvey and the overall financial situation of the Garvey campaign will likely remain a topic of interest and scrutiny.