Summary
Current Position: US Representative of AZ 7th District since 2015
Affiliation: Democrat
Former Position: State Delegate from 2011 – 2014
District: most of southern, western, and downtown Phoenix, along with a portion of Glendale.
Upcoming Election: US Senate
Quotes:
I guess conservative Twitter has now determined that I have never seen combat.. it’s gonna be weird when they read my book about fighting in Iraq.
Rep. Ruben Gallego discusses impact of Latino vote in Arizona
OnAir Post: Ruben Gallego AZ-03
News
For an improbable fifth straight election cycle, Arizonans will once again vote for a U.S. senator. This time the race is for the successor to Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., who announced in March she would not seek a second six-year term.
U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., is the only prominent Democrat running from his party. Former TV broadcaster and gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake is running against Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb for the Republican nomination.
Before Sinema bowed out, Arizona faced the prospect of an unprecedented three-way contest. Now, the race figures to be a conventional two-way battle race and one of the more fiercely contested in the country.
About
Born the son of Latino immigrants—his mother from Colombia and father from Mexico—Representative Ruben Gallego knows what it means to live the American Dream. That’s why he’s working in congress to make sure all Arizonans, and Americans, can live theirs.
Rep. Gallego represents the 3rd District of Arizona in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was first elected in 2014.
He grew up on the South Side of Chicago with three sisters and was raised by his single mother. He supported his family throughout school by working as a janitor, a cook, and at a meat-packing plant.
He was the first in his family to attend college, graduating from Harvard University.
Rep. Gallego enlisted in the Marine Corps and deployed to Iraq in 2005 as an infantryman, serving with Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines.
His Company saw some of the worst fighting of the Iraq War, losing 22 Marines and a Navy Corpsman to enemy action in eight months. Following his experience in Iraq, Congressman Gallego committed to ensuring that servicemen and –women are never sent into harm’s way without a plan for winning the fight and securing their wellbeing while deployed and back in the United States.
In Congress, Rep. Gallego is proud to defend Arizona and protect its water supply and natural beauty as a member of the House Natural Resources Committee.
He held the first-ever House hearing on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, oversaw the House passage of Carcieri fix legislation affirming Tribal Nations’ right to sovereign homelands, and championed investment in broadband and other critical infrastructure on Tribal land.
He has advocated for cornerstone federal land and wildlife conservation laws and worked to improve access to America’s iconic public lands.
Rep. Gallego is a leading voice on national security issues. He is a member of the House Armed Services Committee where he is the current ranking member of the Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations. His work involves retaining the United States’ qualitative military edge and employing U.S. military power only when necessary.
Rep. Gallego was elected to the Arizona House of Representatives in 2010 and served until 2014. As a state legislator, he became known for his tough stand against extreme legislation pushed by Republicans in the state legislature. He also led the push to expand Medicaid and worked to secure in-state tuition for veterans.
Personal
Full Name: Ruben Gallego
Gender: Male
Family: Divorced: Kate; 1 Child
Birth Date: 11/20/1979
Birth Place: Chicago, IL
Home City: South Mountain, AZ
Religion: Catholic
Source: Vote Smart
Education
Bachelor’s, International Relations, Harvard University, 1998-2004
Political Experience
Representative, United States House of Representatives, Arizona, District 3, 2023-present
Representative, United States House of Representatives, Arizona, District 7, 2015-2023
Candidate, United States House of Representatives, Arizona, District 3, 2022
Candidate, United States House of Representatives, Arizona, District 7, 2018, 2020
Representative, Arizona State House of Representatives, District 27, 2010-2014
Assistant Minority Leader, Arizona State House of Representatives, 2012-2014
Professional Experience
Director, Latino and New Media Operations, Strategies360, 2012-present
Served, United States Marine Corps
Chief of Staff, District 7, City of Phoenix, 2008-2010
Project Manager, Riester Public Affairs, 2006-2007
Offices
Washington D.C. Office
1131 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-4065
Phoenix Office
1601 North 7th Street
Suite 310
Phoenix, AZ 85006
Phone: (602) 256-0551
Fax: (602) 257-9103
Contact
Email: Government
Web Links
Issues
Priorities
Abortion
Abortion is a fundamental right—backed by half a century of legal precedent and supported by the vast majority of Arizonans. Today, as a conservative Supreme Court majority and far-right extremists wage war on women’s rights, Ruben is proud to defend the right to choose in Congress on behalf of Arizonans.
Following the devastating Dobbs v. Jackson decision, Ruben voted for legislation to guarantee the legal right to travel across state lines to obtain an abortion and unequivocally supported the right to access contraception.
In the House, he co-sponsored the Women’s Health Protection Act and the My Body, My Data Act, which protect women’s health care providers and sensitive medical data, respectively, because he knows that extremists would use a woman’s health history to put her employment, benefits, and personal safety at risk if given the opportunity.
As your Senator, Ruben will continue to champion the right to choose—starting by waiving the filibuster to codify Roe v. Wade.
Arizona Families
A Marine through and through, Ruben has never backed down from a fight—especially when it comes to fighting for Arizona families. A father of two, Ruben has always been a staunch supporter of the child tax credit, which provides a much needed tax-break for everyday Arizona families. In Congress, he introduced the Universal Full- Day Kindergarten Act to ensure every child has access to high-quality, full- day kindergarten. He’s also championed lower health care costs, including prescription drug reform to make sure Arizona families can always access high quality health care. He has been a vocal advocate for making housing more affordable — knowing that the everyday Arizona family can no longer afford the average Arizona home — and pushed Congress to bring home the federal resources needed to build more of it.
As Arizona continues to grow, Ruben is working to ensure opportunities for our families to grow with it.
Economy
Wall Street bankers and big corporations are getting richer every year, while the everyday folks who make up the backbone of our economy are still being squeezed. Ruben is fighting to build an economy that works for everyone, and makes life affordable for hard-working families.
That starts with lowering costs and empowering workers. In the Senate, Ruben will lead the charge to protect and expand workers’ right to organize and collectively bargain. Ruben knows the dignity of work and understands wages must keep up with the cost of living. That’s why he will fight to raise the minimum wage to a living wage of at least $15/hour, a common sense policy that is both widely supported by Arizonans and absolutely necessary for hardworking families to get by.
Ruben also wants to bring more high-paying jobs to Arizona. That is why he was proud to vote for the CHIPS and Science Act, which is already bringing thousands of semiconductor manufacturing jobs to our state. And he supports small businesses. He has consistently advocated for increased funding for the Community Development Financial Institution Fund to support growth in underserved communities, and he successfully secured an increase in the standard mileage deduction rate to lower gas costs for small businesses and the self-employed.
But Ruben also knows that we need to end the system of tax loopholes and exorbitant giveaways for the rich. It is inexcusable that billionaires and corporations continuously exploit our tax code — Ruben is committed to making sure they pay their fair share
Education
Having grown up poor, Ruben knows firsthand that education can change lives. In Congress, he is working to provide all kids with the same transformative educational opportunities.
Ruben is leading the charge to address the teacher shortage crisis; in 2022, he introduced the Teachers LEAD Act to support teachers and improve retention. Arizona has the highest teacher turnover rate in the country, and Ruben knows that in order to invest in our students, we must invest in our educators.
When it comes to expanding access to education from early childhood all the way through college, Ruben has been a tireless advocate, fighting for universal full-day kindergarten, expanded Child Care Development Block Grant funding, increased resources to public schools, and affordable higher education for all students.
For Ruben, this fight is personal. With a son in elementary school and a young daughter, Ruben wants his own children to grow up with strong public schools, career and technical training options, and affordable higher education—and in the Senate, he will push for every Arizona child’s right to the same.
Environment & Climate Change
It’s a fact: the climate is changing and we need to act. That’s why Ruben has made environmental issues a top priority. In Congress, Ruben voted in favor of the Inflation Reduction Act: by far the largest climate investment in the history of the United States. The IRA invests in cheaper, more sustainable energy, and will bring thousands of jobs to our state.
Ruben is also a leader in preserving Arizona’s public lands. He has fought time and again to protect areas like the Grand Canyon from industry exploitation. Ruben wants every community to be able to enjoy Arizona’s natural resources and natural beauty, whether through championing partnerships with Tribal governments or working to commemorate César Chávez with a National Historic Park in Phoenix. With the passage of his Veterans in Parks Act, Ruben led a bipartisan push to expand access to national parks for our veterans and Gold Star families, giving them lifelong free access to enjoy our beautiful parks across the nation.
Our state’s magic lies in its magnificent natural beauty—from the depths of the Grand Canyon to the tip of Humphreys Peak. We need to protect our public lands and our environment for generations to come.
Health Care
Ruben knows that our healthcare system is broken. Health care is a human right, and in the wealthiest nation on the planet, it is unacceptable that high-quality, comprehensive health care is not accessible for all Arizonans.
Ruben has long been a champion for improving health care access for families. He is an unwavering supporter of Medicaid expansion, and he stood up to Republican attempts to gut Arizona’s Medicaid program and dismantle the Affordable Care Act time and again.
For seniors, Ruben was proud to pass lower prescription drug prices as part of the Inflation Reduction Act. He will continue to stand up to any attempt to privatize or cut Medicare on behalf of the 1.45 million Arizonans who rely on it—and he will fight every day to expand Medicare benefits.
In Congress, Ruben has led the fight to lower health care costs—including prescription drug reform—to make sure Arizona families can always access high quality health care. And as a Senator, he will not stop until every Arizonan has access to high quality health care.
Immigration
As the proud son of immigrants, Ruben knows that for millions of Arizonans, immigration is not just a political issue, but a personal one, as our border communities benefit every day from sustained economic and cultural exchange.
But while our border communities are not the war zones that news stations often portray them as, they are facing a serious crisis. We need smart ways to keep our border secure, allow for a prosperous cross-border economy, reform a broken immigration system, and stop the flow of fentanyl into our communities.
Ruben has been on the forefront of sensible, comprehensive immigration reform in Congress, backing several bills that passed in the House but were held up in the Senate due to the filibuster. Over the years, Ruben has consistently voted for funding to hire and deploy thousands more border patrol agents, secure the border and ports of entry—and successfully advocated for increased resources for our border communities. In addition, he has introduced the Higher Education Dream Act, co-sponsored the Veteran Service Recognition Act and spoken out against extremist right-wing policies that separated migrant children from their families.
In the Senate, he will continue to champion these reforms, and lead the way to a better immigration system for all.
Inflation
The inflation crisis is squeezing Arizona’s small businesses and working families. It’s a devastating consequence of supply chain issues, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the conflict in Ukraine, but it is being exacerbated by corporations that price gouge Americans on basic necessities like food and gas.
In the House, Ruben has already made critical strides to curb inflation, like passing the Inflation Reduction Act, which lowered the costs of essentials like prescription drugs and health care; investing in clean energy; and making sure that billion-dollar corporations pay their fair share in taxes.
He has also taken a stand against corporate price gouging with the Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act, a package of bipartisan bills to lower prices and save Arizonans money at grocery stores and the gas pump.
LGBTQ+
From speaking out against Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell while in the Marines to leading the fight against the Prop 107 same-sex marriage ban in Arizona, to now serving as Vice Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus, Ruben has always and will continue to fight for the LGBTQ+ community.
Ruben is an active supporter of the Equality Act, which outlaws discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in housing, banking, jury selection, transportation, and public accommodations. His commitment extends to veterans, ensuring those discharged due to their sexual orientation or gender identity receive the VA benefits they’ve earned.
Discrimination has no place in our society and Ruben is unwaveringly committed to fostering a future where everyone can live authentically and without fear. While substantial progress has been made, the fight for equality is far from over.
National Security
Protecting Arizonans from threats—foreign and domestic—remains one of Ruben’s top priorities in Congress. As a veteran and the highest-ranking Latino on the House Armed Services Committee, Ruben always puts our service members first. That means working tirelessly to ensure that members of the military are never again sent into harm’s way without a plan for winning the fight and caring for them when they return home.
As a national security leader and former Chairman of the Intelligence and Special Operations Subcommittee, Ruben plays a pivotal role in overseeing the operations and priorities of our special forces and intelligence community. And as the co-chair of the House Baltic Caucus, Ruben has been an unapologetic advocate for deterring Russian aggression in Europe.
Ruben knows that our adversaries, including China, Russia, and Iran, are trying every day to threaten the safety of Arizona families. But as Ruben has said throughout Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, America has what it takes to be a responsible leader on the world stage and stand up to enemies of democracy. Through Arizona’s military communities, innovative manufacturing, world-class universities, and our people, he believes that Arizona can be at the forefront of that mission.
Protecting Arizona’s Water
For every Arizonan looking toward the future, water is a top priority. As our state gets hotter and drier with each passing year, Ruben is leading efforts to combat excess urban heat and find solutions to ensure our state has enough water.
To that end, he has introduced federal legislation to keep foreign corporations and governments like Saudi Arabia from using excess water in drought-stricken states like Arizona. In 2022, he also introduced the Excess Urban Heat Mitigation Bill, which directs funds to climate resiliency in major cities. Ruben recognizes that 21st century water problems require 21st century solutions, which is why he introduced a bill to support and fund emerging water conservation technologies.
To protect our public lands and water, he co-authored the 30×30 Initiative, a comprehensive plan to conserve 30% of our global lands and oceans by the year 2030. And he successfully advocated for permanent authorization and funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), a cornerstone public land program that protects critical drinking water sources across the country.
Ruben knows that a safe and healthy future for our families depends on sustainable water access. He’ll fight for that access as Arizona’s next Senator.
Tribal Communities
As the former Chair and a current member of the Subcommittee for Indian and Insular Affairs, Ruben is a passionate voice for Arizona’s tribes in Congress.
He has worked tirelessly to improve access to quality healthcare for tribal communities. He wrote the Coverage for Urban Indian Health Providers Act to insure Urban Indian Organizations (UIOs), and the Urban Indian Health Facilities Improvement Act, to support their infrastructure – successfully securing votes to sign both bills into law. He was a leader in the push for advanced funding for Urban Indian Health Organizations and the Indian Health Service to protect Indian Country from future government shutdowns.
Ruben is committed to helping tribal communities protect themselves, including by addressing the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW). He led a bipartisan effort to have the government’s top watchdog align federal, state, and tribal agencies to address MMIW cases and held the first congressional hearing on the crisis. He also works to improve tribal law enforcement through his bill, the BADGES in Native Communities Act, to increase coordination between federal, state, and tribal law enforcement.
Ruben knows that too many Native Americans in rural areas, including tribal lands, often lack access to vital resources – and he’s made progress to close that gap. Ruben’s PAVA Program Inclusion Act improves access to the ballot for Native Americans with disabilities living in the four corners region. He also successfully advocated for the inclusion of robust broadband deployment for Indian Country in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and he wants to do even more to expand broadband on tribal lands through his Bridging the Tribal Digital Divide Act.
Veterans
Ruben understands what it means to be an American veteran—he is one. After coming home from fighting in Iraq, where he was an infantryman in one of the hardest hit units of the war, Ruben experienced firsthand the need for better financial, medical, and social support to meet veteran community needs. We must continue to honor those who sacrifice the most, even and especially when they return home.
As a former member of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee in Congress, Ruben has vocally supported programs to get veterans the housing, education, economic opportunity, and mental and physical health care they deserve. From the historic Honoring Our PACT Act which will provide benefits to veterans exposed to toxic burn pits, to his Restore Veterans’ Compensation Act which will allow veterans to keep their separation pay should they qualify for VA disability, Ruben remains committed to our veterans in Arizona and across the country.
As a veteran who has struggled with PTSD, he knows how important the VA is to Arizona veterans, but only if it works how it’s supposed to. He has introduced legislation to improve VA oversight, including patient care data and public records requests, so the veteran community and Congress know how to improve the VA for those who served.
The brave men and women who have served in uniform—and their families, who are too often forgotten or ignored—put their lives on the line to defend our freedom. Ruben will continue to be their champion and voice in the Senate.
Voting Rights and Democracy
Ruben was on the House floor on January 6th and saw the violent assault on our democracy firsthand. Extremist GOP legislators in Arizona and across the country are actively suppressing the vote and attempting to overturn the results of free and fair elections—disenfranchising millions of Americans in the process. American democracy is at an inflection point, and we need leaders who understand what we’re up against.
As a combat veteran, Ruben defended democracy abroad; and as a Congressman, he works to defend democracy at home. He has been a vocal supporter of the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act, key measures to protect the right to vote. Both bills passed the House but stalled in the Senate when senators failed to waive the filibuster to protect the constitutional rights of Arizonans.
When elected, Ruben plans to finish the job and work with his colleagues to codify the bills into law, finally fortifying our sacred right to vote once and for all.
Politics
U.S. House of Representatives
Source: Wikipedia
Elections
Gallego speaking at a rally for presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in 2016
On February 27, 2014, Gallego announced his candidacy for Congress in Arizona’s 7th congressional district.[16] Although not required to give up his seat under Arizona’s resign-to-run laws (since he was in the final year of his state House term), Gallego resigned from the Arizona House in March 2014.[17]
Mayday PAC, a super PAC seeking to reduce the role of money in politics, endorsed Gallego in 2014.
Gallego won a five-way Democratic primary—the real contest in this heavily Democratic, majority-Latino district—with 48.9% of the vote. He won the general election with 74% of the vote. He has been reelected three times, never dropping below 70% of the vote. He faced only a Green candidate in 2018, and defeated Republican challengers in 2016, 2020, and 2022. He is the second Colombian American elected to the U.S. House after Republican Scott Perry.[19]
Considered a progressive politician, Gallego, who has been very critical of U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema, was encouraged by several left-wing organizations to run against her in the 2024 election.[3] He announced his candidacy on January 23, 2023.[4]
Committee assignments
For the 118th Congress
Committee on Armed ServicesSubcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations (Ranking Member)
Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces
Committee on Natural ResourcesSubcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries
Caucus memberships[edit]
Blue Collar Caucus
Congressional Arts Caucus
Congressional Hispanic Caucus
Congressional Equality Caucus
Congressional Progressive Caucus (formerly)[21]
House Baltic Caucus
Medicare for All Caucus
Congressional Coalition on Adoption[22]
More Information
Services
Source: Government page
District
Source: Wikipedia
Arizona’s 3rd congressional district is a congressional district that includes most of southern, western, and downtown Phoenix, along with a portion of Glendale. It is currently represented by Democrat Ruben Gallego.
From 2003 to 2013, most of the district’s population was in middle-to-upper class areas in the northern part of Phoenix. Like the metropolitan area in general, the 3rd district leaned Republican, although the southern parts of the district in east-central Phoenix and Paradise Valley were more competitive between the parties. With a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of D+24, it is the most Democratic district in Arizona.
Wikipedia
Rubén Marinelarena Gallego (/ˈruːbən ɡaɪˈɛɡoʊ/ ROO-bən gy-EH-goh; born November 20, 1979) is an American politician who is a United States senator-elect from Arizona. He has served as the U.S. representative for Arizona’s 3rd congressional district since 2015. A member of the Democratic Party, Gallego was a member of the Arizona House of Representatives, where he was assistant minority leader from 2012 until he resigned to run for Congress. Gallego was first elected to Congress in 2014. His district includes most of southern, western, and downtown Phoenix, and part of Glendale, where he served four terms in the House.
Gallego served as the national chair of Eric Swalwell‘s 2020 presidential campaign.[1] A progressive politician, Gallego was critical of Senator Kyrsten Sinema for her opposition to abolishing the filibuster and votes against certain Democratic legislation. By the time he ran for the U.S. Senate in 2024, he had distanced himself from the label “progressive”.[2] Democratic Party members and liberal organizations encouraged him to run against Sinema, and in January 2023 he announced his candidacy for the 2024 United States Senate election in Arizona. As Sinema did not seek reelection, Gallego won the Democratic nomination unopposed. In the general election he defeated the Republican nominee, Kari Lake.[3] He is the first Latino to be elected to represent Arizona in the United States Senate.[4] When he takes office on January 3, 2025, he will be one of the first two Colombian American U.S. senators, along with Bernie Moreno of Ohio.
Early life and education
Gallego was born in Chicago,[5] and is a second-generation American, with a Colombian mother and a Mexican father.[6] Along with his three sisters, he was raised by a single mother.[7] The family moved to the Chicago suburb Evergreen Park, and he graduated from Evergreen Park Community High School.[8] Gallego attended Harvard College, where he became a member of Sigma Chi fraternity[9] and graduated in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts in international relations.[10]
Early career
Gallego served in the Marines from 2002 to 2006.[11] After completing training in the School of Infantry (SOI), he was deployed to Iraq with Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines. Gallego served as a lance corporal.[12] The 3/25 lost 46 marines and one Navy corpsman between January 2005 and January 2006. Gallego’s best friend died during combat operations in Iraq.[7]
In 2007, Gallego led District 7 Phoenix City Council candidate Michael Nowakowski’s successful campaign before serving as Nowakowski’s chief of staff.[13] In 2009, he stepped down as chief of staff to focus on his campaign for the Arizona State House in District 16, which he won in 2010.[14][15]
In 2011, The Arizona Republic named Gallego a distinguished freshman lawmaker.[16] His first successful bill granted in-state tuition status to veterans residing in Arizona.[7] Gallego supported the repeal of Arizona SB 1070.[citation needed] In 2012, Gallego was elected assistant minority leader.[17]
Gallego founded the group Citizens for Professional Law Enforcement to recall Maricopa County sheriff Joe Arpaio, citing Arpaio’s immigration policies and his use of taxpayer money to investigate Barack Obama‘s citizenship.[18] The attempt failed; Arpaio remained in office until losing reelection in 2016. Gallego worked for Strategies 360 as Director of Latino and New Media operations. He also worked for RIESTER, one of Arizona’s largest public relations firms.[19]
U.S. House of Representatives
Elections
2014
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On February 27, 2014, Gallego announced his candidacy for Congress in Arizona’s 7th congressional district.[20] Although not required to give up his seat under Arizona’s resign-to-run laws (since he was in the final year of his state House term), Gallego resigned from the Arizona House in March 2014.[21] Mayday PAC, a super PAC seeking to reduce the role of money in politics, endorsed Gallego in 2014.[22]
Gallego won a five-way Democratic primary—the real contest in this heavily Democratic, majority-Latino district—with 48.9% of the vote. He won the general election with 74% of the vote. He has been reelected three times, never dropping below 70% of the vote. He is the second Colombian American elected to the U.S. House, after Scott Perry.[23]
2016
Gallego defeated Republican challenger Eve Nunez in 2016.[24]
2018
Gallego defeated Green Party challenger Gary Swing in 2018.[25]
2020
Gallego defeated Republican challenger Joshua Barnett in 2020.[26]
2022
In 2022, Gallego ran in the newly redrawn Arizona District 3 and defeated Republican challenger Jeff Zink.[27] Considered a progressive politician, Gallego, who has been very critical of Senator Kyrsten Sinema, was encouraged by several progressive organizations to run against her in the 2024 election.[28] He announced his candidacy on January 23, 2023.[29]
Committee assignments
For the 118th Congress:[30]
Caucus memberships
- Blue Collar Caucus
- Congressional Arts Caucus
- Congressional Hispanic Caucus
- Congressional Equality Caucus
- Congressional Progressive Caucus (formerly)[31]
- Rare Disease Caucus[32]
- House Baltic Caucus
- Medicare for All Caucus
- Congressional Coalition on Adoption[33]
U.S. Senate
On January 22, 2023, Gallego announced his candidacy for the United States Senate in 2024.[34] The seat is currently held by Kyrsten Sinema, an independent who was first elected as a Democrat in 2018, and who has angered some members of the party due to her opposition to filibuster reform and some Democratic legislation. After Gallego entered the race, and with Sinema not polling well, she chose not to run for reelection.[35] Gallego had raised more money than Sinema in the first two quarters of 2023.[36]
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In 2022, Gallego bought a home near Capitol Hill using a special mortgage loan program for military veterans. He claimed the District of Columbia home as his primary residence although his campaign maintains that he resides in his Phoenix home. Gallego receives a homeowner rebate in Arizona that lowers the tax burdens for residents who primarily live in the state. Politico noted that Gallego “may have to explain why he declared he was primarily a resident of the nation’s capital”.[37][38]
Gallego, who had previously embraced his progressive background as “a fierce liberal combatant”, has sought to strike a moderate tone in his 2024 campaign in order to woo swing voters. He once called Donald Trump‘s border wall plans “stupid” and accused Trump of “scapegoating immigrants” but by 2024 was “delicately turning to the political center”. The New York Times wrote, “Gallego has built a reputation as a blunt-spoken liberal who is politically in tune with young progressives and lacerates his opponents with profane social media posts.” While Gallego seeks to move to the middle, Republicans in Arizona are highlighting his co-sponsorship of the Medicare for All Act, his support for ending the Senate filibuster, and his suggestion to “take a scalpel” to military spending.[39] In 2018, Gallego rallied alongside Bernie Sanders, and in 2022 he called himself “a true progressive voice in Congress”. By 2024, he no longer embraced the label “progressive”. He let his membership in the Congressional Progressive Caucus lapse, which he claimed was a financial decision.[2]
On November 9, 2024, Decision Desk HQ projected that Gallego had beaten Lake in the Senate election in Arizona.[40] On November 12, the Associated Press also projected that he had defeated Lake.[4] Gallego significantly outperformed Kamala Harris, winning by 2.4% while Harris lost the 2024 United States presidential election in Arizona by 5.5%.[41]
Political positions
In November 2020, the House of Representatives passed a bill, introduced in bipartisan fashion by Gallego and Republican Markwayne Mullin, that requires the federal government to reimburse healthcare provided for Native veterans regardless of whether the healthcare was provided by, or referred by, the Indian Health Service or tribes.[42] In May 2021, the House passed a bill Gallego sponsored, the Native VetSuccess at Tribal Colleges and Universities Pilot Program Act, that would have provided more government funding for Native American veterans. The Senate did not take up the bill.[43]
In July 2021, it was reported that a corporate lobbying group called the U.S.–Qatar Business Council paid for a $22,000 trip to Qatar for Gallego and his wife, who is a lobbyist for the National Association of Realtors.[44] Commentators noted that Gallego had previously criticized Sinema for allegedly being too close to business lobbyists.[45] Gallego opposed the 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade.[46] He has called for enshrining abortion rights in the Constitution of Arizona.[47]
In February 2022, Gallego called for expelling Russian university students from the U.S. Some commentators denounced these remarks as bigoted and xenophobic.[48] On February 9, 2023, Gallego voted against overturning the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022, which would allow noncitizens to vote in local elections in the District of Columbia.[49][50]
114th Congress
In the 117th United States Congress, Gallego voted in line with Joe Biden‘s stated position 100% of the time.[51] In September 2023, the House passed Gallego’s bill, the Native American Child Protection Act, which aims to set up a National Indian Child Resource and Family Services Center to assist and train tribes, tribal organizations and urban Indian organizations, and to forge state-tribe agreements to prevent, investigate, and prosecute family violence.[52][53] Gallego voted to provide Israel with support following the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.[54][55]
Personal life
On August 7, 2008, Gallego changed his name from Ruben Marinelarena to Ruben Marinelarena Gallego to honor his mother, Elisa Gallego, who raised him and his three siblings on her own after his father abandoned the family in his childhood.[56] In 2010, Gallego married Kate Widland Gallego, who was later elected mayor of Phoenix. They divorced in 2017 and have one child together.[57]
Gallego married Sydney Barron in 2021.[58][59] Barron is a lobbyist for the National Association of Realtors.[6] Gallego and Barron also have a child together.[60] In 2021, Gallego, with Jim DeFelice, wrote the book They Called Us “Lucky”: The Life and Afterlife of the Iraq War’s Hardest Hit Unit, a memoir of Gallego’s service in the war as a member of the U.S. Marines Third Battalion, Twenty-Fifth Marine Regiment, Lima Company.[61]
Electoral history
2010
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Ruben Gallego | 4,149 | 26.12 | |
| Democratic | Catherine Miranda | 3,476 | 21.88 | |
| Democratic | Cloves Campbell Jr. (incumbent) | 3,182 | 20.03 | |
| Democratic | Jim Munoz Jr. | 2,281 | 14.36 | |
| Democratic | Sandra Gonzales | 1,955 | 12.31 | |
| Democratic | Cristy Lopez | 842 | 5.30 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Catherine Miranda | 19,197 | 39.46 | |
| Democratic | Ruben Gallego | 18,365 | 37.75 | |
| Republican | Michael Gular | 8,551 | 17.58 | |
| Green | Angel Torres | 2,532 | 5.21 | |
2012
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Catherine Miranda (incumbent) | 28,683 | 40.98 | |
| Democratic | Ruben Gallego (incumbent) | 27,522 | 39.32 | |
| Republican | Daniel Coleman | 10,088 | 14.41 | |
| Green | Angel Torres | 3,702 | 5.29 | |
2014
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Ruben Gallego | 14,936 | 48.90 | |
| Democratic | Mary Rose Wilcox | 11,077 | 36.27 | |
| Democratic | Randy Camacho | 2,330 | 7.63 | |
| Democratic | Jarrett Maupin | 2,199 | 7.20 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Ruben Gallego | 54,235 | 74.85 | |
| Libertarian | Joe Cobb | 10,715 | 14.79 | |
| Americans Elect | Rebecca DeWitt | 3,858 | 5.32 | |
| Independent | José Peñalosa | 3,496 | 4.83 | |
| Write-in | 150 | 0.21 | ||
2016
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Ruben Gallego (incumbent) | 119,465 | 75.2 | |
| Republican | Eve Nunez | 39,286 | 24.7 | |
| Write-in | 60 | < 0.01 | ||
2018
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Ruben Gallego (incumbent) | 113,044 | 85.6 | |
| Green | Gary Swing | 18,706 | 14.1 | |
| Write-in | 301 | < 0.01 | ||
2020
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Ruben Gallego (incumbent) | 165,452 | 75.7% | |
| Republican | Josh Barnett | 50,226 | 23.3% | |
| Write-in | 54 | 0.0% | ||
| Total votes | 215,732 | 100% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
2022
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Ruben Gallego (incumbent) | 108,599 | 77.0% | |
| Republican | Jeff Zink | 32,475 | 23.0% | |
| Total votes | 141,074 | 100% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
2024
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Ruben Gallego | 1,676,335 | 50.1% | ||
| Republican | Kari Lake | 1,595,761 | 47.7% | ||
| Green | Eduardo Heredia Quintana | 75,868 | 2.3% | ||
| Write-in | 850 | 0.0% | |||
| Total votes | 3,348,814 | 100% | |||
| Democratic gain from Independent | |||||
See also
References
- ^ Kling, Matt (April 15, 2019). “Arizona Rep. Ruben Gallego Joins Eric Swalwell’s Presidential Campaign”. KJZZ (FM). Archived from the original on April 16, 2019.
- ^ a b Tabet, Alex; Hillyard, Vaughn (April 8, 2024). “Ruben Gallego redefines himself as he seeks Senate promotion in Arizona”. NBC News. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
- ^ Vakil, Caroline (November 9, 2024). “Gallego defeats Lake in Arizona Senate race”. The Hill. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
- ^ a b Cooper, Jonathan J. (November 12, 2024). “Democrat Ruben Gallego wins Arizona US Senate race against Republican Kari Lake”. Associated Press. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
- ^ “Guide to the New Congress” (PDF). Roll Call. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 3, 2018. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
- ^ a b Kavaler, Tara (November 30, 2021). “5 takeaways from Rep. Ruben Gallego’s new book They Called Us Lucky“. The Arizona Republic. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
- ^ a b c Lopatin, Shari (September 2011). “Marine Turned Politician”. Phoenix Magazine. Archived from the original on November 22, 2014. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
- ^ “Evergreen Park Community High School: Hall of Fame Inductees” (PDF). evergreenpark.org. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 6, 2024. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
- ^ Avi-Yonah, Shera S. (June 10, 2019). “Bipartisan Group of Lawmakers Introduces Legislation That Could Endanger Harvard’s Sanctions”. The Harvard Crimson. Retrieved June 11, 2019.
- ^ “Ruben Gallego”. Ballotpedia. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
- ^ Eckstein, Megan (March 26, 2015). “Meet the Navy, USMC Veterans on the House Armed Services Committee”. USNI News.
- ^ Saksa, Jim (November 9, 2021). “Gallego memoir offers blunt assessment of war, Harvard and Congress”. Roll Call. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
- ^ Tone of District 7 race leaves hard feelings. The Arizona Republic. November 10, 2007.
- ^ Wong, Scott (November 25, 2009). Nowakowski’s top aide to run for House. The Arizona Republic.
- ^ “Ambition, Life Experience Driving State Representative”. South Mountain District News. May 31, 2011. Archived from the original on March 28, 2014. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
- ^ Pitzl, Mary Jo (May 21, 2011). “Arizona House and Senate distinguished freshmen”. The Arizona Republic. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
- ^ “Democrats select leaders in Arizona House, Senate”. My Fox Memphis. Associated Press. November 13, 2012. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
- ^ Celock, John (September 25, 2012). “Joe Arpaio Opponents Form Super PAC To Unseat Arizona Sheriff”. Huffington Post. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
- ^ “Ruben Gallego”. Strategies 360. Archived from the original on July 9, 2013. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
- ^ Foley, Elise (February 27, 2014). “Ruben Gallego, Arizona State Rep., Announces Bid For Congress”. HuffPost. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
- ^ “Rep. Gallego resigns from Arizona House”. Arizona Capitol Times. Associated Press. March 14, 2014. Retrieved November 17, 2016.
- ^ Sullivan, Sean (August 11, 2014). “A leading ‘anti-super PAC’ just backed three more candidates for Congress”. Washington Post. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
- ^ Reinhard, Beth; Alfaro, Mariana (December 22, 2021). “Long before embracing Trump’s false election claims, Rep. Scott Perry promoted groundless theories”. Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
- ^ “Arizona U.S. House 7th District Results: Ruben Gallego Wins”. The New York Times. August 2017. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
- ^ “Arizona Election Results 2018”. Politico. November 7, 2018. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
- ^ “Arizona 2020”. Washington Post.
- ^ Steinbach, Allison; Gonzalez, Daniel. “Rep. Ruben Gallego defeats Republican Jeff Zink in Arizona’s 3rd Congressional District”. Arizona Republic. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
- ^ Carrasquillo, Adrian (September 30, 2021). “Draft Ruben Gallego effort launches as progressives seek to oust Kyrsten Sinema”. Newsweek. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
- ^ Joan E Greve (January 23, 2023). “Ruben Gallego to run for Arizona Senate seat held by Kyrsten Sinema”. The Guardian. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
- ^ “Ruben Gallego”. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ Mutnick, Ally; Perano, Ursula (March 6, 2024). “Sinema’s exit sparks rush to the center in Arizona Senate race”. Politico.
He quietly ended his membership in the Congressional Progressive Caucus at the end of last year, according to a person familiar with his decision who was granted anonymity to speak freely.
- ^ “Rare Disease Congressional Caucus”. Every Life Foundation for Rare Diseases. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
- ^ “About Us”. www.ccainstitute.org.
- ^ Altimari, Daniela; Weiss, Laura (January 23, 2023). “Rep. Ruben Gallego jumps into Arizona Senate race”. Roll Call. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
- ^ Grisales, Claudia (March 5, 2024). “Arizona’s Kyrsten Sinema retires from Senate”. NPR. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
- ^ Mutnick, Ally (July 15, 2023). “Sinema outraised by Gallego again, further clouding her future”. Politico. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
- ^ Lippman, Daniel (June 5, 2023). “Democratic Senate hopeful claims primary residence in Arizona — and D.C.” Politico. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
- ^ Hansen, Ronald; Reagor, Catherine (June 6, 2023). “Rep. Ruben Gallego faces questions over terms of D.C. home purchase”. The Arizona Republic. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
- ^ Browning, Kellen (April 10, 2024). “In Arizona’s Crucial Senate Race, a Liberal Fighter Courts the Center”. The New York Times. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
- ^ Vakil, Caroline (November 9, 2024). “Gallego defeats Lake in Arizona Senate race”. The Hill. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
- ^ Marans, Daniel (November 27, 2024). “How Ruben Gallego Threaded The Needle In Purple Arizona”. The Huffington Post. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
- ^ Jennings, Chris (January 2021). “Series of U.S. House votes aim to help Native American veterans” (PDF). Biskinik. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
- ^ Goldenberg, Karli (June 2, 2021). “Bill Would Provide Better Education Benefits to Native American Veterans”. military.com. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
- ^ Leonard, Kimberly; Levinthal, Dave (July 10, 2021). “Photos show shirtless Democratic congressmen and their wives riding camels on a Qatar trip paid for by a special interest group”. Business Insider.
- ^ Birle, Jack (February 24, 2023). “Ruben Gallego slammed Sinema for relationship with lobbyists, but he’s married to one”. Washington Examiner. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
- ^ Fischer, Morgan (January 22, 2024). “Roe vs. Wade: Here’s what Sinema and Gallego said about anniversary”. Arizona Republic. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
- ^ Vargas, Ramon Antonio (April 15, 2024). “Arizona Democrat says enshrining abortion rights in constitution best remedy to 1864 ban”. The Guardian. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
- ^ Jones, Sarah (February 28, 2022). “Xenophobia Is the Wrong Response to Russia”. Intelligencer. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
- ^ Dinan, Stephen (February 9, 2023). “House votes to overturn D.C.’s illegal immigrant voting plan”. The Washington Times.
- ^ “H.J.Res.24 – Disapproving the action of the District of Columbia Council in approving the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022”. Congress.gov. February 9, 2023.
- ^ Bycoffe, Anna Wiederkehr and Aaron (October 22, 2021). “Does Your Member Of Congress Vote With Or Against Biden?”. FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
- ^ Randazzo, Ryan (September 19, 2023). “House passes Rep. Ruben Gallego’s Native American Child Protection Act”. Arizona Republic. Archived from the original on September 21, 2023. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
- ^ “Native American Child Protect Act passes U.S. House”. KNAU. September 19, 2023. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
- ^ Demirjian, Karoun (October 25, 2023). “House Declares Solidarity With Israel in First Legislation Under New Speaker”. The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ “Roll Call 528 Roll Call 528, Bill Number: H. Res. 771, 118th Congress, 1st Session”. Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. October 25, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ Fuller, Jaime (June 12, 2014). “This Arizona candidate changed his name. His opponent wasn’t happy about it”. The Washington Post. Retrieved November 17, 2016.
- ^ Gardiner, Dustin (December 21, 2016). “Phoenix Vice Mayor Kate Gallego and Rep. Ruben Gallego to divorce”. The Arizona Republic. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
- ^ Kurtz, Judy (February 18, 2020). “One lawmaker gets engaged, another married around Valentine’s Day”. The Hill. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
- ^ Wu, Nicholas (June 7, 2021). “Schumer’s jam-packed June”. Politico. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
- ^ Kavaler, Tara (July 7, 2023). “Meet Isla Jean Gallego: Rep. Ruben Gallego announces birth of daughter”. The Arizona Republic. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
- ^ “They Called Us Lucky”. HarperCollins. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
External links
- Representative Ruben Gallego official U.S. House website
- Gallego for Arizona campaign website
- Appearances on C-SPAN
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
- Profile at Vote Smart
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| Districts (1949–present) (3rd district established in 1963) (4th district established in 1973) (5th district established in 1983) (6th district established in 1993) (7th and 8th districts established in 2003) (9th district established in 2013) |
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