Amy Klobuchar has a food-based campaign strategy for the Iowa caucuses. Politicians have a long history of using meals to gain votes.
In 1758, George Washington spent his entire campaign budget — a whopping 50 pounds — on 160 gallons of liquor in order to sway voters on election day.
In New England, there's a tradition of making "Election cake" to draw in voters and boost turnout.
The cake has a long history. In 1771, one man even sent a bill to the Connecticut General Assembly to cover the cost of making cakes for Election Day celebrations.
Sources: NPR, New York Times
In 1777, James Madison lost a seat in the House of Delegates for refusing to participate in Virginia's long-standing tradition of "corrupting influence of spiritous liquors, and other treats."
Once his opponent brought whiskey for the voters, Madison didn't stand a chance.
Sources: Smithsonian Magazine, Library of Congress
During the 1860 Presidential election, Democrats working for Stephen A. Douglas held a carnival and ox-roast in the Upper East Side of Manhattan.
The event attracted over 30,000 people. But the Democrats didn't have enough food for everyone, and Douglas lost the race.
Sources: New York Times, Smithsonian Magazine
In 1876, Republicans in Brooklyn invited crowds of voters to a campaign barbecue after parading through the streets of New York with two massive oxen.
They roasted the beasts in Myrtle Avenue Park where 50,000 people gathered to eat in "one of the most magnificent affairs" ever held in the neighborhood.
Source: Smithsonian Magazine
In 1928, a political ad for Herbert Hoover appeared to promise voters "a chicken for every pot," using food as a means to highlight wealth disparities and appeal to the average American.
In 1948, the tradition of bribing was put to an end when a law was passed deeming it illegal to reward people for votes using food, booze, or "any such expenditure" that could violate the electoral process.
Source: Cornell Law School
But that hasn't stopped politicians from hosting food-centric gatherings or, in today's age, posting opportunistic selfies with food online.
In 1956, President Eisenhower iconically portrayed himself as a "regular American" when he kicked off his campaign with an advertisement drinking a bottle of Coca-Cola.
Sources: The Guardian, Time
In 1976, Senator Henry M. Jackson made headlines when he campaigned in New York City and ate at Katz's Delicatessen, a popular Jewish deli.
Jackson was known for his rather unadventurous taste in foods, and many saw as his attempt to get the Jewish vote.
Source: The New York Times
After Mike Huckabee was declared the Republican winner of the 2008 Iowa Caucus, he attributed it to meeting with voters at Pizza Ranch, a popular Western-themed restaurant.
"I largely won it because of Pizza Ranches all over the state," Huckabee said. "We created the Pizza Ranch strategy. A lot of people have copied it since then, but I think we created it."
Source: Des Moine Register
In 2016, Hillary Clinton appeared on one of New York's largest Hip Hop and R&B radio stations and claimed to carry hot sauce with her everywhere she goes.
Though Clinton's been talking about her love of the condiment for years, she received controversy for seemingly pandering to a black audience, after "I got hot sauce in my bag, swag" became a common phrase from Beyonce's hit song "formation."
Source: The Atlantic
In the months leading up to the Iowa caucus, Senator Amy Klobuchar has invited voters to enjoy "hot dish."
It's a traditionally inexpensive Midwestern meal at gatherings she calls "hot dish house parties."
At these events, campaign literature is passed out next to steaming plates of Klobuchar's famous recipe.
Source: New York Times
When Kirsten Gillibrand's campaign brought her to South Carolina, she was sure to eat the staple: fried chicken and waffles. But she quickly received backlash.
Critics called her "inauthentic" when she tried eating the famous southern dish with a fork and knife, and then awkwardly asked the waiter what the appropriate way to do it was.
Source: Politico
In a new method of introducing food to politics, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has brought voters into her home through a series of Instagram cooking videos.
Ocasio-Cortez uses social media as a platform to talk about politics while offering a relatable, down-to-earth persona to young voters.
Source: Newsweek
Throughout his campaigns, Beto O'Rourke littered his Instagram page with shots of himself giving impassioned speeches while standing atop counters in local coffee shops, bars, and diners.
O'Rourke's social media presence has consistently sported him feasting on different delicacies on the road, such as having popovers in New England.
Source: The Guardian
Donald Trump caused outrage in 2016 when he tweeted a photo of himself with a taco bowl.
"Happy Cinco de Mayo! The best taco bowls are made in Trump Tower Grill. I love Hispanics!" he wrote.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump defended his post and claimed, "people loved it, and you know what, I'm going to do great with the Hispanics."
Source: Business Insider
Elizabeth Warren became the subject of internet mockery when, in the middle of an Instagram live video she stopped to say, "hold on a sec, I'm gonna get me a beer," and proceeded to awkwardly grab a brew from her refrigerator.
Critics mocked her for using this tactic as a way to convey a sort of "down-home," relatable persona.
Source: The Atlantic
During the Iowa State Fair, Pete Buttigieg showed Iowans that he can immerse himself into the culture of fried foods by biting into huge pork chops, bacon BLTs, and fried Oreos.
Source: Eater
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