D.C. shadow Sen. Paul Strauss is doing some power lunching.

Strauss shared a midday meal today with “West Wing” alumna Melissa Fitzgerald, an actress he got to know on the set of Web-based political drama “Chasing the Hill.”

Strauss and Fitzgerald talked about a shared political passion — “how we get statehood for D.C.” — over Russian cuisine at Dupont Circle’s Mari Vanna, Strauss told HOH.

The pair met last year, when the shadow senator did some bit work in an episode starring Fitzgerald’s character, Samantha Clemons, and her fictional congressional campaign. Strauss said he makes “one cameo as ‘man getting cursed at the Democratic convention.’”

On Friday, Fitzgerald will help launch a real-life candidate into California politics.

The actress is scheduled to appear at a campaign event in Malibu, Calif. Fitzgerald will introduce “Chasing the Hill” director Brent Roske, as he kicks off his independent campaign against 39-year incumbent Rep. Henry A. Waxman, D-Calif.

Strauss did not comment on whether Fitzgerald mentioned the campaign during lunch.