Lawmakers wager chocolate, barbecue on Super Bowl outcome

House members representing the home districts of the football teams set to face off Sunday in the Super Bowl announced a friendly wager Wednesday. 

If the Kansas City Chiefs win, California Democrats Rep. Rho Khanna and Speaker Nancy Pelosi offered to deliver a basket of Bay Area-based treats, including Ghirardelli chocolates and See’s Candies, to Missouri Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D).

But if the San Fransisco 49ers win the championship game, Cleaver said he’d give the California Democrats world-famous Kansas City barbecue and Russell Stover chocolates. 

I hope you’re ready to send over some sweet chocolates after the @49ers win on Sunday! https://t.co/cCLoYZgeWI

— Rep. Ro Khanna (@RepRoKhanna) January 29, 2020

“Looking forward to watching our 49ers sail to victory this Sunday against the Chiefs,”  Khanna said in a statement “Proud to represent such a strong, smart team from the heart of Silicon Valley. I hope Rep. Cleaver is ready to send over some sweet chocolates.”

Pelosi said she “always welcome[s] the chance to share” the Bay Area’s delicacies with her colleagues, but she added that Cleaver “will just have to visit our beautiful city to get his hands on them.” 

“The Chiefs are an outstanding team, but nothing matches the spirit, talent and heart that our incredible San Francisco 49ers bring to the field every game,” Pelosi said in a statement. “The only thing that I’ll savor more than Kansas City’s famous BBQ is watching the 49ers become Super Bowl Champions.”

Cleaver, however, is equally as confident in the Chiefs taking home the victory. 

“After fifty years of waiting, this Sunday we will see the Chiefs bring a Lombardi trophy back home to Chiefs Kingdom,” Cleaver said in the statement. “As Kansas Citians celebrate in the streets, I look forward to enjoying some of Silicon Valley’s finest chocolates, courtesy of Congressman Khanna.”

Lawmakers took part in a similar wager over the World Series in October; Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) made a bet with Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) over the outcome of the game, each betting the other’s staff a meal based on their home state if their team won the series. 

Ultimately, Kaine’s area team, the Washington Nationals, beat the Houston Astros.

Updated at 4:31 p.m.