Los Angeles state legislator Isaac Bryan spent a whopping $349,108 on his credit card, with most of the money going on naval-gazing Instagram and Facebook posts – which sources believe is a bold move to attempt to run for a higher office.
Bryan, who serves in the state Assembly, spent more than $200,000 on clout-chasing social media posts, according to The Post’s review of political ad spending and campaign records filed earlier this month.
The 34-year-old appears to have banked hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign donations from special interests in 2023 that allowed him to spend $130,000 more than he raised last year, state records show.
Many of the charges billed to Bryan’s Capital One account went toward sponsored Facebook and Instagram posts that included pictures and videos of him staring longingly (and shirtless) at the ocean with a dog in his lap, flexing (again shirtless), shooting hoops, and doing yoga.
The lefty legislator — who has called for defunding the police and abolishing ICE — tagged some posts as a form of self-healing with syrupy hashtags while begging people to hit that follow button.
But it appears Bryan’s thirst traps could have an ulterior motive beyond just boosting Bryan’s Instagram follower count to 176K. He may be hoping these new followers will propel him to higher office, perhaps all the way to Washington, D.C.
Bryan’s district is in roughly the same area as the district currently held by octogenarian Rep. Maxine Waters, who’s seeking another term despite turning 88 years old this summer.
“It’s smart if he wants to raise his profile, which he does because he’s an ambitious guy in his career,” a Democratic political consultant told The Post.
“Having a following is very important in LA, because in this neck of the woods, it’s a very dense place with a lot of people.”
“As long as it’s paid for with the right funds, I don’t see any problem with it,” the political consultant told The Post.
“It’s definitely a little beefcake.”
Bryan could also be receiving a personal financial benefit from the campaign funds that boost his profile.
State law allows candidates to retain mileage credits and/or points for credit cards used for campaigns. With nearly $350,000 in charges last year, Bryan’s campaign could conceivably be increasing his social media reach while also fattening his wallet.
In the last three months of 2025, Bryan’s campaign spent more than $98,500 on Capital One charges that included a trip to Japan, numerous Uber rides, fancy meals, and political donations.
Bryan’s frequent posts and political hedging have led to criticism.
Demetra Kaye, a YouTube host who recently criticized Bryan’s lack of follow-through on reparations legislation, called him a “sellout” in a video for the African Diaspora News Channel.
“I’ve never met him personally, but he just gives off charlatan vibes,” Kaye told The Post. “That’s probably true with most politicians, but with him it’s so sinister.”
Bryan did not respond to requests for comment, leaving it unclear what the strategy is behind the state legislator’s clout-chasing social media posts and any potential plans to run for higher office.
