A U.S. senator who became a brave early backer of Maine Democrat Senate hopeful Graham Platner may not be setting the best example of ethics for his protege.

Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona has been found to have used leftover campaign money for family travel and Super Bowl seats, Politico writer Irie Sentner reported Sunday.

Platner already has enough ethical issues of his own to frame a barn, from Nazi tattoos to extramarital sexts to a fishy oyster business, so getting tied up in a new scandal tied to a key supporter is a pre-November surprise no candidate would relish.

Politico said Sunday a review of Gallego’s political 2023 records shows he repeatedly used campaign cash to fund luxury outings with his wife and to care for his children since launching his campaign for Senate that year.

He has used his leadership PAC to fund recent trips to Miami, Chicago, Disneyland and Disney World with his family, the outlet reported.

Gallego has tapped that PAC and his main campaign committee for more than $18,000 in reimbursements for child care – including $400 to his wife’s mother for babysitting.

Federal lawmakers can legally use campaign committee funds for travel, food, events and even child care, as long as those funds are not for “personal use,” meaning they may not cover activities that would exist irrespective of the campaign.

Gallego pleaded poverty when asked about the spending, citing “rising costs of child care and the burden it has on the budgets of American families.”

Earlier this year he bucked his party’s majority leader to back Platner over Gov. Janet Mills to run against five-term GOP Sen. Susan Collins this fall.

The Arizona senator’s support came as Mills was getting marquee support from Senate Democrat Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York.

Key early support from the likes of Gallego was seen as helping Platner make the case he was a serious candidate in the face of a veteran, tested statewide candidate such as Mills.

Mills ended up being forced out of the race due to lack of support in no small part deriving from Platner’s early heavyweight out-of-state backing by Gallego and Bernie Sanders, the so-called independent Vermont senator.

Gallego is also among the Democrats named as possible 2028 presidential contenders.

Last fall, he stumped in New Jersey, Virginia and Florida, where he campaigned for Democrats who went on to win their elections.

On Friday, he traveled to South Carolina, where he took part in the Democratic Party’s “On the Road” series on Juneteenth.