A Texas Democratic congressional candidate’s campaign reported spending more than $4,300 on cookies, purchases at a Mexican restaurant, and beer and wine earlier this year, according to federal election filings. The expenditures have drawn fresh scrutiny following a tense debate in which she apologized for saying her Republican opponent was “making fun of Nazis.”
Katy Padilla Stout, the Democratic nominee in Texas’ 23rd Congressional District, disclosed five transactions totaling $4,338.14 in March and April, according to spending information cited in an August report by RedState and records attributed to the Federal Election Commission.
The reported expenses included $675 for event cookies, $1,289.22 at Total Wine, and $2,373.92 at Las Guitarras Cocina Mexicana.
Republican candidate Brandon Herrera has made the spending part of his campaign’s criticism of Stout. His campaign website prominently features the cookie expense and accuses her of using donor money to purchase the treats.
The filing lists a $675 payment on March 30 with the purpose “COOKIES FOR EVENT.” Herrera’s website names the payee as Denise Gamboa Zelle and classifies the transaction as a campaign event expense.
The campaign also reported two Total Wine purchases: $1,089.08 on April 21 and $200.14 the next day. Both transactions were described as “BEER AND WINE.”
The records show additional payments of $2,027.52 on April 27 and $346.40 on April 28 to Las Guitarras Cocina Mexicana.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, Stout said the expenses covered campaign and fundraising events attended by supporters.
“Sugar cookies, particularly Texas-shaped ones, hold a special place in Texan culture,” she said. “We bought ours at a local bakery because we believe in supporting small businesses.”
The filings confirm that the campaign reported the transactions, but they do not determine whether the purchases violated any rules, whether any items were used personally, or how many attendees were present at the events.
Herrera’s campaign has continued to question the expenditures through its opposition website, The Real Katy Stout.
A section titled “Cookie gate” spotlights the $675 payment and repeats the stated purpose: “COOKIES FOR EVENT.”
The site also attacks Stout’s views on immigration, taxes, and other political issues.
The spending controversy comes as the candidates compete for a seat representing one of the nation’s largest congressional districts along the southern border. During a televised debate in San Antonio on Tuesday, Stout also became involved in a contentious exchange over Herrera’s online videos.
KEEP READING: Gamer’s ‘Fantasy World’ Claim Questioned After Tiger Pen Entry
“He made millions of dollars after making jokes online, making fun of Nazis, making fun of all of these things that we know he does not need to be doing,” Stout said during the heated discussion.
Herrera replied, “And here I thought making fun of Nazis was a good thing.”
Stout later apologized and explained her criticism during her closing remarks.
“I apologize, I did misspeak,” she said. “He chooses to goose-step on YouTube for clickbait and money so that he can promote that type of ideology. He chooses to shame women.”
The WOAI/KABB debate also featured clashes over gun rights, immigration, and the rising cost of living.
Stout later told Fox News Digital that “mocking Nazis is fine, and that is not what I objected to, nor is that what my opponent does.”
“I object to content that trivializes veteran suicide, rape, child murder, women’s bodies and the Holocaust, the type of content he churns out,” she added. “You can hear his disgusting commentary straight from his own mouth at HeReallySaidThat.com.
“Do I think he promotes Nazi imagery? Yes. In a video posted 5/24/22, he goose-steps to ‘Erika,’ and touts an MP-40 machine gun. In another video posted 6/23/20, he said ‘for the fatherland’ before firing a Nazi-made STG 44, calling it ‘like a religious experience.’
“Calling it a joke doesn’t change what it is: giving a platform to Nazi symbols and weaponry for clicks and money. In my view, the ‘I’m only joking’ defense is a familiar tactic among neo-Nazi and antisemitic content creators. His content has attracted bipartisan condemnation, including the Republican Jewish Coalition, which called my opponent ‘a goose-stepping extremist who pals around with online Nazis.’”
Stout, a former teacher and child welfare attorney, has emphasized affordability and corruption as central themes of her campaign.
Herrera, a firearms manufacturer and online personality who has adopted “Let’s Go Brandon” as his campaign slogan, has campaigned on border law enforcement, tax reductions and Second Amendment protections.
The two are vying to replace former Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales, who resigned earlier this year after acknowledging an affair with a staffer.
Texas’ 23rd Congressional District stretches from the San Antonio area toward El Paso and includes hundreds of miles of the US-Mexico border. Early voting begins Oct. 19, with Election Day scheduled for Nov. 3.
The campaign for Brandon Herrera did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
