The potential marriage of GameStop Corporation (GME) and eBay Inc (EBAY) has been one of the week's biggest stories. While the deal faces regulatory and shareholder hurdles, at least one member of Congress has a personal stake in the outcome. But she might have left some money on the table with her eBay trade.
Since 2022, only one member of Congress has bought GameStop stock: Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), according to MarketDash's Government Trades page. Her spouse purchased $1,000 to $15,000 in GameStop shares on June 11, 2025, when the stock traded between $28.42 and $29.41. Today, GME sits at $24.23 — so the position is down. But the proposed merger with eBay could change that trajectory.
GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen has been trimming unprofitable segments, closing underperforming stores, and building a cash pile. His rationale for buying eBay: create a collectibles powerhouse to take on Amazon. The deal values eBay at $125 per share, paid 50% in cash and 50% in GameStop stock. If it goes through, GME holders could see a boost — but the deal is far from certain.
Here's where it gets interesting for McClain. She also bought eBay stock — but sold it almost immediately. A disclosure shows her spouse bought $1,000 to $15,000 in eBay shares on June 17, 2025, when the stock traded between $77.03 and $77.70. Then, just a week later on June 24, they sold, with eBay trading between $74.32 and $77.08. That means the sale was likely at a small loss or break-even. Today, eBay trades at $105.26. Ouch.
McClain's investment portfolio has been on a tear otherwise. According to data from Quiver Quantitative, she was the third top gainer among members of Congress in 2025, with a 37% return — more than double the S&P 500's 16.6%. Her holdings include a stake in privately held xAI, Elon Musk's AI company that has since merged with SpaceX. If xAI goes public later this year, McClain could see another windfall.
Her trading history has raised eyebrows. She filed hundreds of stock transactions late in August, including purchases of Palantir Technologies, a stock that has surged amid government contracts. She's also bought Tesla multiple times in 2025.
So while McClain's GameStop bet is currently underwater, the eBay merger could flip the script. But the lesson from her eBay trade is clear: sometimes the best move is to hold on.
