Uber surged on 2014 campaign trail

Congressional candidates and outside groups spent $278,000 on Uber rides during the 2014 campaign cycle, according to the Center for Public Integrity. 

An analysis this week found that campaign committees reported paying for 7,625 Uber rides in 2013 and 2014, a massive jump from the 2012 cycle.

{mosads}The ride service outperformed traditional taxis and far surpassed Uber’s competitors like Lyft and Sidecar. 

Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Wis.) spent the most on Uber rides of any other candidate with $16,938. Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) spent the most of any Senate candidate with $4,689. 

Campaign committees like EMILY’s List, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and American Bridge 21st Century each spent more than $10,000 on Uber rides.

In total, the report found 21 campaign committees spent at least $3,000 on Uber rides during the 2014 cycle, including most major party committees, as well as the political action committees of GOP Sens. Marco Rubio (Fla.) and Rand Paul (Ky.), who have both since announced presidential runs. 

Uber has exploded to a become company valued at $40 billion since its founding in 2009. Its popularity grew again in mid-2012 when it launched Uber X, which allowed people to shuttle customers around in their own cars using Uber’s software for a lower price. 

The company has come under fire from some lawmakers — Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) in particular — about its privacy policies. Though his office acknowledges the senator has used the service. 

The surge in use among lawmakers has also been reported before. A separate analysis found congressional campaigns paid for about 2,800 Uber rides during the 2014 cycle. That review did not include outside groups and party committees.