The bizarre Chicago hotel incident that helped end Democrat state Rep. Joseph Hernandez’s reelection campaign grabbed the headlines.
But Hernandez’s own campaign-finance reports, as we exclusively reported last week, reveal another spectacle: more than $101,000 in reported spending, including cash withdrawals, gift cards, hotels, big-box stores — and at least $590.04 spent at fried-chicken chains alone.
A Piñon Post review of Hernandez’s filings found $101,703.30 in reported expenditures across the campaign reports examined. The records do not, on their own, prove that any particular expense was illegal or personally benefited Hernandez. Many transactions were described as fundraising, meetings, travel, lodging, meals, supplies, or other campaign expenses.
Still, some entries are difficult to ignore.
1. At least $590.04 at fried-chicken joints
Yes, fried chicken gets its own category.
Hernandez’s campaign reported six separate KFC expenditures totaling $422.22.
Those included $82.16 at KFC in Farmington labeled “meetings and appearances,” $91.94 categorized as fundraising, a $50.26 travel-and-meals charge, a $58.03 meetings charge, and two KFC Shiprock transactions on June 2, 2026, for $67.90 and $71.93.
Then there was Church’s Chicken: $67.04 in Farmington, another $37.09 in Farmington, and $28.97 at a Church’s Chicken in Denton, Texas — another $133.10.
Finally, the campaign spent $34.72 at Raising Cane’s Chicken in Flagstaff, Arizona.
Grand total at those obvious fried-chicken chains: $590.04.
And that does not even count other wing or general restaurants in the ledger.
2. $6,608.02 in massive bank entries with “No Category”
Two of the most unusual expenditures did not involve a restaurant or retailer at all.
On June 5, 2024, the campaign reported $2,500 to DDA Citizens Bank, described as “In clearing Check 101.”
Twelve days later came another $4,108.02 entry described as “Direct Deposit Account Citizen Bank.”
The campaign-purpose category for both?
“00-No Category Applies.”
Together, they totaled $6,608.02.
3. $1,200 “Cash Out” to Hernandez himself
Also on June 5, the campaign listed Joseph Hernandez as the payee for a $1,200 “Cash Out.”
The purpose was listed as a fundraising-event expenditure.
Two days later, the campaign reported another $540 “Cash Out” to Hernandez, this time for candidate travel, lodging, and meals.
And the cash-style transactions did not stop in 2024.
4. Another $1,200 over-the-counter transaction
On June 8, 2026, another $1,200 went to Hernandez in an entry described as “DDK Over the Counter.”
It was categorized as candidate travel, lodging, and meals.
Other reports contain additional ATM, debit-withdrawal and over-the-counter transactions to Hernandez, including a $164 ATM withdrawal on June 2, 2026 and later $103 and $120 entries.
5. $1,724.40 in Speedway gift cards — in one day
One of the most eye-popping spending bursts happened June 5, 2024.
The campaign made four Speedway purchases:
- $405
- $444.75
- $624.75
- $249.90
The campaign itself said the transactions were for gift cards used to compensate campaign workers or volunteers.
Total in one day: $1,724.40.
6. Nearly $2,400 at Sam’s Club in one day
On June 3, 2024, Hernandez’s campaign reported three separate Sam’s Club expenditures:
$998.41, $154.93 and $1,237.43.
Total: $2,390.77.
All were reported as fundraising expenses.
And just two days earlier, another $1,237.43 Sam’s Club charge had already hit the campaign account.
7. Nearly $1,500 at Home Depot in a single day
Aug. 20, 2024 brought another spending spree.
Hernandez’s campaign reported Home Depot charges of:
$142.81, $312.31 and $1,020.81.
That is $1,475.93 in one day, all described as campaign building materials and supplies. The filing clearly lists all three transactions together.
Then, one week later, another $1,127.17 Home Depot expenditure appeared under “campaign paraphernalia/misc.”
8. Two identical $442.47 hotel charges — same day, same hotel
On May 21, 2026, the campaign reported two identical $442.47 charges at Comfort Suites in Albuquerque.
Combined: $884.94.
Both were categorized as candidate travel, lodging, and meals.
The filing does not explain whether the identical charges represented separate rooms, separate stays, or something else.
9. Hilton, La Fonda and Inn of the Mountain Gods
The campaign’s lodging trail extended well beyond Comfort Suites.
Among the larger reported charges:
$687.67 at Hilton Santa Fe.
$462.44 at La Fonda on the Plaza.
$409.47 at Inn of the Mountain Gods.
The La Fonda charge was particularly notable because Hernandez categorized it as “meetings and appearances,” rather than simply travel or lodging.
10. $800 in Porters Restaurant charges on consecutive days
Hernandez’s reports are packed with restaurant spending.
At Porters Restaurant in Farmington, the campaign reported a $400 fundraising charge on June 3, 2024 — followed by another $400 charge the next day.
Other Porters charges included $158.64 and $68.26.
That was just one restaurant.
The campaign also spent at Nataani Nez Restaurant, The Coffee Ship, Los Hermanitos, Little Caesars, Taco Bell, McDonald’s, Red Lobster, Domino’s, Sonic, Denny’s, Wendy’s, Burger King, Wingstop and numerous others.
11. $1,088 for “campaign paraphernalia/misc.”
On Sept. 24, 2024, the campaign reported $1,088 at Denetso Ink in Shiprock.
Instead of describing the expenditure as printing or campaign literature, the reported purpose was the broad category:
“Campaign paraphernalia/misc.” The company appears to be be tied to “Black Streak Apparel.”
12. The bizarre $9,074 “placeholder”
Perhaps the strangest entry in the entire packet is technically a contribution rather than an expenditure.
Hernandez listed $9,074.35 from himself with the following explanation:
“Placeholder to bring balance above negative until audit can rectify negative reported balance.”
The same amended reporting period also contains multiple “Unknown Contributor” cash entries that were later marked deleted, including amounts of $1,470.80, $2,833.38, $1,311.60 and $250.
Because they were deleted, those amounts should not be treated as valid current contributions.
But their appearance — alongside a $9,074 “placeholder” designed to correct a negative reported balance — makes the filing history even more unusual.
13. Some 2024 reports weren’t filed until 2026
Then there is the timing.
The packet includes a Fourth Primary Report due July 5, 2024 that was electronically filed March 10, 2026.
A First General Report due Sept. 9, 2024 similarly shows a March 9, 2026 filing date.
That means some disclosures covering 2024 campaign activity did not appear in their filed form until nearly two years later, or were fixed years later after failing to be in compliance.
A $101K trail after a scandal-plagued exit
Hernandez has since abandoned his reelection campaign following reports of the Chicago hotel incident involving allegations of public nudity and banging on guests’ doors.
But withdrawing from the race does not erase the campaign-finance trail.
At least $590.04 at fried-chicken chains. $6,608.02 in enormous bank entries carrying “No Category.” A $1,200 cash-out to Hernandez. Another $1,200 over-the-counter transaction. $1,724.40 in Speedway gift cards in a single day. Thousands at Sam’s Club and Home Depot. Hundreds at hotels and restaurants. And a $9,074 “placeholder” inserted to fix a negative balance.
The spending, at a glance
The individual transactions pile up quickly. To show just how frequently Hernandez’s campaign account was used at restaurants, grocery and retail stores, and hotels, Piñon Post broke out some of the most notable reported spending by vendor.
Food and restaurants: Hernandez’s filings show repeated spending at Nataani Nez Restaurant, Porters Restaurant, The Coffee Ship, Los Hermanitos, Little Caesars, KFC, and many others. That is on top of the other fast-food and restaurant charges scattered throughout the reports.
Groceries and retail: The campaign also repeatedly spent money at stores including Bashas’, Walmart, Smith’s, Dollar General, Shamrock Foods/Southwest Cash & Carry, and Costco — often under categories such as fundraising, meetings, campaign supplies, or travel and meals.
Hotels and lodging: Hernandez’s reports additionally show hundreds of dollars at a time going to properties including Comfort Suites, Hilton Santa Fe, Staybridge Suites, La Fonda on the Plaza, Inn of the Mountain Gods, and TownePlace Suites.
Taken together with the cash withdrawals, gift-card purchases, big-box spending, and unusual banking entries detailed above, the filings paint a sprawling picture of how Hernandez’s campaign account was used.
None of those entries standing alone proves wrongdoing.
But taken together, Hernandez’s own filings provide an extraordinary look at how more than $101,000 in reported campaign expenditures moved through his political account — and leave plenty of questions for the former candidate to answer.
Home Boy like to live large. He is large so living large comes natural to him. Rest assured, no matter how much reporting, no matter how rock solid the evidence, Home Boy has nothing to worry about. He will skate because he’s a democrat. its the NM way. Home Boy, if you have any fried chicken left over slide me a drum stick. this Homie hongry. Let the good times roll !