Lawmakers wager local booze, favorite foods in World Series bets

Lawmakers from the D.C. area are feeling confident they’ll win their good-natured sporting bets with colleagues from Texas as the Washington Nationals take their 2-0 lead over the Houston Astros into Friday night’s Game 3 of the World Series.

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), who has a bet with Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), said he’s optimistic about the Nationals winning their first World Series.

“Confident, but just like Davey Martinez would say, ‘Gotta go 1-0 today,’” Kaine said Thursday, quoting one of the Nationals manager’s favorite sayings.

If the Nationals win, Kaine’s staff wins a meal of Texas barbecue and Shiner Beer. If the Astros win, Cruz’s staff will be treated to crab cakes and whisky from Catoctin Creek Distilling Company.

{mosads}After the Astros lost Game 1 on Tuesday, Cruz took to Twitter to remind everyone that he hadn’t lost the bet.

“Last night was just a warm up, so don’t celebrate too soon. The @astros will #TakeItBack and I’m looking forward to enjoying those Chesapeake Bay crab cakes and @catoctincreek whisky!,” Cruz tweeted on Wednesday.

On the other side of the Capitol, two House members who represent districts where the teams are based have their own friendly wager going.

Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D), the non-voting delegate who represents Washington, D.C., challenged Rep. Jackson Lee (D-Texas) to a bet on the House floor Tuesday, the first day of the World Series.

“If the Nats win the World Series, and I should say when the Nats win the World Series, she and her staff will wear and take a photo…in D.C. statehood T-shirts to help us further nationalize the fight for D.C. statehood in Texas,” Norton said.

If the Astros come back from their two-game deficit to win the Series, Norton and her staff will have to wear José Altuve shirts for a day. The Astros second baseman hit a walk-off home run against the New York Yankees in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series to send the Astros to their second World Series in three years.

Lawmakers with wagers on the Series are planning on attending this weekend’s games at Nationals Park. Norton said she would be at Friday’s game and Kaine said he would be attending one of the games over the weekend.

President Trump said Thursday he plans on attending a possible Game 5, on Sunday, when local chef and outspoken Trump critic Jose Andres is slated to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.

But if the Nationals sweep the Series by winning on Friday and Saturday, a fifth game won’t be needed. 

If Trump attends Game 5, it would be the first time he has attended a Nationals game since taking office.

Even local mayors have been getting in on the wagers. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner (D) wagered a brisket plate from Burns Original BBQ and a local India pale ale, while D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) offered half-smokes from Ben’s Chili Bowl, vodka from Republic Restoratives and beer from DC Brau Brewing Company if the Nationals lose.