Shake Shack customers are urging the fast-food chain to cut ties with its bun supplier

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The Shake Shack chain has become synonymous with smashed burgers, crinkle-cut fries, and Martin's Potato Rolls. But the latter has become a cause for concern among customers after local Pennsylvania news site Billy Penn reported that the people behind the bun company have donated thousands of dollars to the front-running Republican candidate for Pennsylvania governor, Sen. Doug Mastriano.

Mastriano is regarded as a far-right Republican and recently received President Trump's backing in the race for governor, according to NBC News. Billy Penn reported that he gained popularity as a Trump-supporting election denier with Christian nationalist beliefs.

Mastriano was also subpoenaed by the congressional committee investigating the January 6 insurrection. NBC News reported that Mastriano used campaign money to charter buses that brought people to the Capitol.

According to Billy Penn, Jim Martin, the former president and current executive chair of Martin's Potato Rolls, gave $110,000 to Mastriano's gubernatorial campaign in 2021 — the largest donation to his campaign to date. He also donated $11,000 in 2020, according to the outlet.

Soleil Ho of the San Francisco Chronicle reported that several Bay Area restaurants will stop purchasing Martin's, and Mike Strauss of Mike's BBQ in Philadelphia told Billy Penn that he plans to stop using the rolls at his burger pop-ups. While Strauss told Billy Penn he "stays out of politics," he said he is "disturbed" by this news and that he "would prefer for my money not to support that."

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