Their elected officials wound up getting waylaid by votes, but attendees of Wednesday’s Experience New Hampshire reception somehow managed to soldier on, eating their way through an array of regional treats.

Even before entering the jam-packed Kennedy Caucus Room in the Russell Senate Office Building, guests were getting tiny jugs of maple syrup pressed into their hands.

A giant grinning grizzly greeted all who paraded past.

Once inside, attendees had their pick of all manner of munchies.

“I didn’t realize there was going to be this many people,” one vendor groused as soon as he realized the futility of trying to keep his serving tray full amid the flurry of hands flailing about in search of free samples.

Some staffers seemed more interested in playing drinking Bingo. “I’ve been to Smuttynose, Red Hook …” one gent boasted to newcomers who had yet to whet their respective whistles.

We were quite taken by Farnum Hill’s extra dry cider, a crisp and seriously tart expression of pressed apples.

Our favorite nibble was definitely the chocolate chip cookie dough popcorn. Each multilayered cluster packed an amazingly salty-sweet-creamy punch.

Others seemed to prefer the mirth of the make-your-own candy display.

“We should hit that on the way out,” we heard one Senate staffer, already juggling a beer and a full plate in both hands, advising a similarly encumbered friend.

Alas, we all but lost our appetite after catching the following NSFW conversation between two nametag-less individuals, who we sincerely hope were not lobbyists or staffers:

Man: I owe you a check.

Woman: For what?

Man: Whatever you guys need.

Damn party poopers …