Ruben Gallego

Gallego was born in Chicago,{{cite web|url=http://info.cqrollcall.com/rs/cqrc/images/CQNews_NewMemberGuide2014.pdf|title=Guide to the New Congress|publisher=Roll Call|access-date=December 6, 2014|archive-date=October 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003183933/http://info.cqrollcall.com/rs/cqrc/images/CQNews_NewMemberGuide2014.pdf|url-status=dead}} and is a second-generation American, with a Colombian mother and a Mexican father.{{cite news |last1=Kavaler |first1=Tara |title=5 takeaways from Rep. Ruben Gallego's new book They Called Us Lucky |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2021/11/30/5-takeaways-ruben-gallegos-new-book-they-called-us-lucky/8766642002/ |access-date=19 April 2023 |work=The Arizona Republic |date=November 30, 2021}} Along with his three sisters, he was raised by a single mother.{{cite news |last=Lopatin |first=Shari |title=Marine Turned Politician |url=http://www.phoenixmag.com/People/marine-turned-politician.html |access-date=August 22, 2013 |newspaper=Phoenix Magazine |date=September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141122140845/http://www.phoenixmag.com/People/marine-turned-politician.html|archive-date=November 22, 2014}} The family moved to the Chicago suburb of Evergreen Park, and he graduated from Evergreen Park Community High School.{{cite web |title=Evergreen Park Community High School: Hall of Fame Inductees |url=https://www.evergreenpark.org/cms/lib/IL50000634/Centricity/Domain/86/pdf%20Hall%20of%20Fame%20Inductees%202018.pdf |archive-date=6 March 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240306163021/https://www.evergreenpark.org/cms/lib/IL50000634/Centricity/Domain/86/pdf%20Hall%20of%20Fame%20Inductees%202018.pdf |website=evergreenpark.org |access-date=19 April 2023 |language=en}} Gallego attended Harvard College, where he became a member of Sigma Chi fraternity{{cite news |last=Avi-Yonah |first=Shera S. |title=Bipartisan Group of Lawmakers Introduces Legislation That Could Endanger Harvard's Sanctions |date=June 10, 2019 |newspaper=The Harvard Crimson |access-date=June 11, 2019 |url=https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2019/6/10/legislation-could-endanger-sanctions/}} and graduated in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts in government.{{Cite web|title=Ruben Gallego|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Ruben_Gallego|access-date=2021-03-05|website=Ballotpedia|language=en}}

File:Ruben Gallego 2013.jpg

Gallego served in the Marines from 2002 to 2006.{{Cite news |last=Eckstein |first=Megan |date=March 26, 2015 |title=Meet the Navy, USMC Veterans on the House Armed Services Committee |url=https://news.usni.org/2015/03/06/meet-the-navy-usmc-veterans-on-the-house-armed-services-committee |work=USNI News}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Saksa |first=Jim |date=2021-11-09 |title=Gallego memoir offers blunt assessment of war, Harvard and Congress |url=https://rollcall.com/2021/11/09/gallego-memoir-offers-blunt-assessment-of-war-harvard-and-congress/ |access-date=2024-08-27 |website=Roll Call |language=en-US}} 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.

In 2007, Gallego led District 7 Phoenix City Council candidate Michael Nowakowski's successful campaign before serving as Nowakowski's chief of staff.[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-arizona-republic-tone-of-district-7/153178927/ Tone of District 7 race leaves hard feelings]. The Arizona Republic. November 10, 2007. 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.Wong, Scott (November 25, 2009). [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-arizona-republic-nowakowskis-top-ai/153179177/ Nowakowski's top aide to run for House]. The Arizona Republic.{{cite news|title=Ambition, Life Experience Driving State Representative |url=http://somonews.com/ambition-life-experience-driving-state-representative/ |access-date=August 22, 2013 |newspaper=South Mountain District News |date=May 31, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328121435/http://somonews.com:80/ambition-life-experience-driving-state-representative/ |archive-date=28 March 2014 }}

In 2011, The Arizona Republic named Gallego a distinguished freshman lawmaker.{{cite news |last=Pitzl |first=Mary Jo |title=Arizona House and Senate distinguished freshmen |url=https://www.azcentral.com/news/election/azelections/articles/20110521arizona-legislators-freshmen.html |access-date=August 22, 2013 |newspaper=The Arizona Republic |date=May 21, 2011 |archive-date=July 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714191934/http://www.azcentral.com/news/election/azelections/articles/20110521arizona-legislators-freshmen.html |url-status=dead }} His first successful bill granted in-state tuition status to veterans residing in Arizona. Gallego supported the repeal of Arizona SB 1070.{{citation needed|date=April 2023}} In 2012, Gallego was elected assistant minority leader.{{cite news |title=Democrats select leaders in Arizona House, Senate|url=http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/story/20048601/2012/11/08/democrats-select-leaders-in-arizona-house-senate|access-date=August 22, 2013|newspaper=My Fox Memphis|date=November 13, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714165405/http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/story/20048601/2012/11/08/democrats-select-leaders-in-arizona-house-senate |agency=Associated Press |archive-date=July 14, 2014 }}

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.{{cite news|last=Celock|first=John|title=Joe Arpaio Opponents Form Super PAC To Unseat Arizona Sheriff|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/25/joe-arpaio-super-pac-arizona_n_1912636.html|access-date=August 22, 2013|newspaper=Huffington Post|date=September 25, 2012}} 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.{{cite web |title=Ruben Gallego |url=http://www.strategies360.com/strategies-360-expands-arizona-office-with-phoenix-leader-ruben-gallego.html |publisher=Strategies 360 |access-date=August 22, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130709051650/http://www.strategies360.com/strategies-360-expands-arizona-office-with-phoenix-leader-ruben-gallego.html |archive-date=July 9, 2013 }}

{{See also|2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona#District 7}}

File:Ruben Gallego (30457489750).jpg in 2016]]

On February 27, 2014, Gallego announced his candidacy for Congress in Arizona's 7th congressional district.{{cite web|title=Ruben Gallego, Arizona State Rep., Announces Bid For Congress|date=February 27, 2014|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ruben-gallego-ed-pastor_n_4869759 |first=Elise |last=Foley |work=HuffPost |access-date=March 1, 2014}} 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.{{cite web |title=Rep. Gallego resigns from Arizona House |url=https://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2014/03/14/rep-ruben-gallego-resigns-from-az-house/ |work=Arizona Capitol Times |agency=Associated Press |date=March 14, 2014 |access-date=November 17, 2016}} Mayday PAC, a super PAC seeking to reduce the role of money in politics, endorsed Gallego in 2014.{{cite news|last1=Sullivan|first1=Sean|title=A leading 'anti-super PAC' just backed three more candidates for Congress|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/08/11/a-leading-anti-super-pac-just-backed-three-more-candidates-for-congress/|access-date=August 11, 2014|newspaper=Washington Post|date=August 11, 2014}}

Given the district's heavily Democratic lean, winning the primary is tantamount to winning the general election. Gallego won a five-way Democratic primary with 48.9% of the vote, defeating Mary Rose Wilcox, who was retiring congressman Ed Pastor's choice to succeed him and was backed by a number of progressive groups.{{Cite news |last=Jaffe |first=Alexandra |date=2014-08-27 |title=Progressive-backed Dem wins bid to succeed Pastor |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/house-races/216038-progressive-backed-dem-wins-bid-to-succeed-pastor/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20140905002218/http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/house-races/216038-progressive-backed-dem-wins-bid-to-succeed-pastor |archive-date=2014-09-05 |access-date=2025-02-17 |work=TheHill |language=en}} Gallego went on to win the general election with 74.9% of the vote. He is the second Colombian American elected to the U.S. House, after Scott Perry.{{Cite news |first1=Beth |last1=Reinhard |first2=Mariana |last2=Alfaro |title=Long before embracing Trump's false election claims, Rep. Scott Perry promoted groundless theories |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/jan-6-committee-trump-perry-conspiracy-theories/2021/12/22/031acd5a-626a-11ec-bf70-58003351c627_story.html |date=22 December 2021 |access-date=2023-02-15 |issn=0190-8286}}

{{See also|2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona#District 7}}

Gallego won the Democratic nomination unopposed and was reelected in 2016 with 75.3% of the vote.{{cite news |title=Arizona U.S. House 7th District Results: Ruben Gallego Wins |work=The New York Times |date=August 2017 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/elections/2016/results/arizona-house-district-7-gallego-nunez |access-date=25 October 2024}}

{{See also|2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona#District 7}}

Gallego was reelected in 2018 with 85.6% of the vote.{{cite web |title=Arizona Election Results 2018 |url=https://www.politico.com/election-results/2018/arizona/ |website=Politico |date=November 7, 2018 |access-date=25 October 2024}}

{{See also|2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona#District 7}}

Considered a rising progressive star in the party, Gallego was encouraged by several progressive groups to run for Senate by challenging Mark Kelly in the Democratic primary. Although he expressed interest, he ultimately chose to seek reelection to his House seat.{{Cite web |last=Sullivan |first=Gregory Krieg, Kate |date=2020-03-06 |title=Rising progressive star Rep. Ruben Gallego endorses Joe Biden {{!}} CNN Politics |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/06/politics/ruben-gallego-endorses-joe-biden/index.html |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=CNN |language=en}} He won the Democratic nomination unopposed and was reelected with 76.7% of the vote.{{cite news |title=Arizona 2020 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/elections/election-results/arizona-2020/ |newspaper=Washington Post}}

{{See also|2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona#District 3}}

In 2022, Gallego ran in the newly redrawn Arizona District 3 and was reelected with 77% of the vote.{{cite web |last1=Steinbach |first1=Allison |last2=Gonzalez |first2=Daniel |title=Rep. Ruben Gallego defeats Republican Jeff Zink in Arizona's 3rd Congressional District |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/elections/2022/11/08/3rd-congressional-district-arizona-election-results-ruben-gallego-jeff-zink/10652931002/ |website=Arizona Republic |access-date=25 October 2024}} Gallego, a major critic of Senator Kyrsten Sinema, was encouraged by several progressive organizations to run against her in the 2024 election.{{Cite web|last=Carrasquillo|first=Adrian|date=2021-09-30|title=Draft Ruben Gallego effort launches as progressives seek to oust Kyrsten Sinema|url=https://www.newsweek.com/draft-ruben-gallego-effort-launches-progressives-seek-oust-kyrsten-sinema-1633557|access-date=2021-10-02|website=Newsweek|language=en}} He announced his candidacy on January 23, 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jan/23/ruben-gallego-arizona-senate-kyrsten-sinema-democrat|title=Ruben Gallego to run for Arizona Senate seat held by Kyrsten Sinema|author=Joan E Greve|date=January 23, 2023|accessdate=January 23, 2023|work=The Guardian}}

For the 118th Congress:{{cite web |title=Ruben Gallego |url=https://clerk.house.gov/members/G000574 |publisher=Clerk of the United States House of Representatives |access-date=22 April 2023}}

• Committee on Armed Services
• Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations (Ranking Member)
• Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces
• Committee on Natural Resources
• Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs
• Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
• Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries

• Blue Collar Caucus
• Congressional Arts Caucus
• Congressional Hispanic Caucus
• Congressional Equality Caucus
• Congressional Progressive Caucus (until late 2023){{Cite web |title=Sinema's exit sparks rush to the center in Arizona Senate race |website=Politico |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2024/03/06/sinema-arizona-senate-00145204|author-first1=Ally|author-last1=Mutnick|author-first2=Ursula|author-last2=Perano|date=2024-03-06|quote=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 Caucus{{cite web|title=Rare Disease Congressional Caucus|author=|url=https://everylifefoundation.org/rare-advocates/rarecaucus/rarecaucus-members/|format=|publisher=Every Life Foundation for Rare Diseases|date=|accessdate=29 November 2024}}
• House Baltic Caucus
• Medicare for All Caucus
• Congressional Coalition on Adoption{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.ccainstitute.org/about/about-us |website=www.ccainstitute.org}}

{{main|2024 United States Senate election in Arizona}}

File:Gallego for Senate.png

On January 22, 2023, Gallego announced his candidacy for the United States Senate in 2024.{{cite news |title=Rep. Ruben Gallego jumps into Arizona Senate race |first1=Daniela |last1=Altimari |first2=Laura |last2=Weiss |url=https://rollcall.com/2023/01/23/123gallegosenate/ |access-date=19 April 2023 |work=Roll Call |date=23 January 2023 |language=en}} The seat was then held by Kyrsten Sinema, an independent who was first elected as a Democrat in 2018, and who 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.{{cite news |last1=Grisales |first1=Claudia |title=Arizona's Kyrsten Sinema retires from Senate |url=https://www.npr.org/2024/03/05/1236075522/arizonas-kyrsten-sinema-retires-from-senate |access-date=22 November 2024 |publisher=NPR |date=March 5, 2024}} Gallego had raised more money than Sinema in the first two quarters of 2023.{{cite web |last1=Mutnick |first1=Ally |title=Sinema outraised by Gallego again, further clouding her future |date=15 July 2023 |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2023/07/15/sinema-gallego-campaign-funds-fec-00106486 |website=Politico |access-date=31 July 2023}}

File:Ruben Gallego & Barack Obama (54110015372).jpg]]

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".{{cite news |last1=Lippman |first1=Daniel |title=Democratic Senate hopeful claims primary residence in Arizona — and D.C. |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2023/06/05/gallego-senate-hopeful-primary-residence-00100130 |access-date=20 June 2023 |work=Politico |date=5 June 2023 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Hansen |first1=Ronald |last2=Reagor |first2=Catherine |title=Rep. Ruben Gallego faces questions over terms of D.C. home purchase |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2023/06/06/rep-ruben-gallego-faces-questions-over-terms-of-d-c-home-purchase/70291353007/ |access-date=20 June 2023 |work=The Arizona Republic |date=June 6, 2023}}

Gallego, who had previously embraced his progressive background as "a fierce liberal combatant", 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.{{cite news |last1=Browning |first1=Kellen |title=In Arizona's Crucial Senate Race, a Liberal Fighter Courts the Center |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/10/us/politics/ruben-gallego-arizona-senate.html |access-date=23 April 2024 |work=The New York Times |date=10 April 2024}} 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.{{cite news |last1=Tabet |first1=Alex |last2=Hillyard |first2=Vaughn |date=8 April 2024 |title=Ruben Gallego redefines himself as he seeks Senate promotion in Arizona |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/ruben-gallego-redefines-seeks-senate-promotion-arizona-rcna146568 |access-date=23 April 2024 |work=NBC News |language=en}}

On November 9, 2024, Decision Desk HQ projected that Gallego had beaten Lake in the Senate election in Arizona.{{cite news |last1=Vakil |first1=Caroline |title=Gallego defeats Lake in Arizona Senate race |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4969256-ruben-gallego-defeats-kari-lake/ |access-date=November 10, 2024 |work=The Hill |date=November 9, 2024}} On November 12, the Associated Press also projected that he had defeated Lake. Gallego significantly outperformed Kamala Harris, winning by 2.4% while Harris lost the 2024 United States presidential election in Arizona by 5.5%.{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ruben-gallego-senate-race-arizona_n_67463276e4b0733bf01de7f0?0te|title=How Ruben Gallego Threaded The Needle In Purple Arizona|website=The Huffington Post|date=November 27, 2024|access-date=November 29, 2024|first1=Daniel|last1=Marans}}

In 2025, Gallego was one of 12 Senate Democrats who joined all Republicans to vote for the Laken Riley Act.{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5095996-senate-passes-laken-riley-act/|title=Senate passes Laken Riley Act in first move after Trump inauguration|work=The Hill|first=Al|last=Weaver|date=January 20, 2025|accessdate=January 20, 2025}}

Source:{{Cite web |date=2025-01-02 |title=Leader Schumer Announces New Senate Democratic Committee Assignments {{!}} Senate Democratic Leadership |url=https://www.democrats.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/leader-schumer-announces-new-senate-democratic-committee-assignments |access-date=2025-01-02 |website=www.democrats.senate.gov |language=en}}

• Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
• Subcommittee on Digital Assets (Ranking Member)
• Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Protection
• Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development
• Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
• Subcommittee on Energy (Ranking Member)
• Subcommittee on National Parks
• Subcommittee on Water and Power
• Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
• Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations
• Subcommittee on Border Management, Federal Workforce, and Regulatory Affairs
• Committee on Veterans' Affairs

• Congressional Hispanic Caucus{{Cite web |date=2023-04-21 |title=Members {{!}} Congressional Hispanic Caucus |url=https://chc.house.gov/members |access-date=2025-04-11 |website=chc.house.gov |language=en}}

File:Ruben Gallego - 1.29.20.jpg meeting in 2020]]

Gallego supports Medicare for All, and was a member of the Medicare for All Caucus in the House of Representatives.

In November 2020, Gallego co-sponsored a bill with Republican Markwayne Mullin that would have required 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.{{cite web |last1=Jennings |first1=Chris |title=Series of U.S. House votes aim to help Native American veterans |url=https://www.choctawnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/jan2021-biskinik.pdf |access-date=October 5, 2023 |publisher=Biskinik |date=January 2021}}

In May 2021, Gallego sponsored a bill that would have provided more government funding for Native American veterans at tribal colleges and universities.{{cite news |last1=Goldenberg |first1=Karli |title=Bill Would Provide Better Education Benefits to Native American Veterans |url=https://www.military.com/daily-news/2021/06/02/bill-would-provide-better-education-benefits-native-american-veterans.html |access-date=October 5, 2023 |work=military.com |date=June 2, 2021}}

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.{{cite web |first1=Kimberly |last1=Leonard |first2=Dave |last2=Levinthal |date=July 10, 2021 |title=Photos show shirtless Democratic congressmen and their wives riding camels on a Qatar trip paid for by a special interest group |website=Business Insider |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/eric-swallwell-ruben-gallegos-shirtless-in-qatar-riding-camel-2021-7}} Commentators noted that Gallego had previously criticized Sinema for allegedly being too close to business lobbyists.{{cite web |title=Ruben Gallego slammed Sinema for relationship with lobbyists, but he's married to one |date=February 24, 2023 |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/ruben-gallego-slammed-sinema-relationship-lobbyists-married-one |work=Washington Examiner |access-date=6 March 2024 |first=Jack |last=Birle }}

Gallego opposed the Supreme Court's 2022 ruling Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization that upheld state abortion bans.{{cite news |last1=Fischer |first1=Morgan |newspaper=Arizona Republic| title=Roe vs. Wade: Here's what Sinema and Gallego said about anniversary |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2024/01/22/roe-v-wade-heres-what-arizona-politicians-said-about-anniversary/72317396007/ |access-date=23 April 2024 |date=January 22, 2024}} He has called for enshrining abortion rights in the Constitution of Arizona.{{cite news |last1=Vargas |first1=Ramon Antonio |title=Arizona Democrat says enshrining abortion rights in constitution best remedy to 1864 ban |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/15/arizona-abortion-ban-1864 |access-date=23 April 2024 |work=The Guardian |date=15 April 2024}}

In February 2022, Gallego called for expelling Russian university students from the U.S., prompting criticism of these remarks as bigoted and xenophobic.{{cite web |first=Sarah |last=Jones |work=Intelligencer |date=February 28, 2022 |title=Xenophobia Is the Wrong Response to Russia |access-date=March 6, 2024 |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2022/02/russian-students-in-u-s-shouldnt-be-expelled-over-ukraine.html}}

In May 2022, after the Uvalde, Texas, school shooting, Gallego criticized Senator Ted Cruz for suggesting that calls for gun control were an attempt to politicize the tragedy, tweeting, "Fuck you @tedcruz you care about a fetus but you will let our children get slaughtered. Just get your ass to Cancun. You are useless."{{Cite news |last=Nichols |first=John |date=2023-01-25 |title=Ruben Gallego Is More Than Just an Alternative to Kyrsten Sinema |url=https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/ruben-gallego-arizona-senate-race/ |access-date=2025-02-17 |language=en-US |issn=0027-8378}}

In February 2023, Gallego voted against overturning the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022, which would allow noncitizens to vote in DC's local elections.{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2023/feb/9/house-votes-overturn-dcs-illegal-immigrant-voting-/ |first=Stephen |last=Dinan |date=9 February 2023 |title=House votes to overturn D.C.'s illegal immigrant voting plan |website=The Washington Times }}{{cite web |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-joint-resolution/24 |work=Congress.gov |title=H.J.Res.24 - Disapproving the action of the District of Columbia Council in approving the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022. |date=February 9, 2023 }}

File:Ruben Gallego speaking to an Army officer.jpg officer in 2017]]

File:Ruben Gallego official portrait.jpg]]

In the 117th United States Congress, Gallego voted in line with Joe Biden's stated position 100% of the time.{{cite web|first1=Anna|last1=Wiederkehr|first2=Aaron|last2=Bycoffe|title=Does Your Member Of Congress Vote With Or Against Biden? |url=https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/biden-congress-votes/ruben-gallego/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508165438/https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/biden-congress-votes/ruben-gallego/|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 8, 2021|website=FiveThirtyEight |access-date=28 October 2021 |language=en |date=2021-10-22}}

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.{{cite news |last1=Randazzo |first1=Ryan |title=House passes Rep. Ruben Gallego's Native American Child Protection Act |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2023/09/19/house-passes-native-american-child-protection-act/70896634007/ |access-date=October 5, 2023 |work=Arizona Republic |date=September 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230921203751/https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2023/09/19/house-passes-native-american-child-protection-act/70896634007/ |archive-date=September 21, 2023}}{{cite news |title=Native American Child Protect Act passes U.S. House |url=https://www.knau.org/knau-and-arizona-news/2023-09-19/native-american-child-protect-act-passes-u-s-house |access-date=October 5, 2023 |work=KNAU |date=September 19, 2023}}

Gallego voted to provide Israel with support after the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.{{Cite news |last=Demirjian |first=Karoun |date=2023-10-25 |title=House Declares Solidarity With Israel in First Legislation Under New Speaker |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/25/us/politics/house-israel-vote.html |access-date=2023-10-30 |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web |date=2023-10-25 |title=Roll Call 528 Roll Call 528, Bill Number: H. Res. 771, 118th Congress, 1st Session |url=https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2023528 |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives |language=en}}

Gallego served as the national chair of Eric Swalwell's 2020 presidential campaign.{{cite web |last=Kling |first=Matt |date=April 15, 2019 |title=Arizona Rep. Ruben Gallego Joins Eric Swalwell's Presidential Campaign |url=https://kjzz.org/content/881666/arizona-rep-ruben-gallego-joins-eric-swalwells-presidential-campaign |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416053549/https://kjzz.org/content/881666/arizona-rep-ruben-gallego-joins-eric-swalwells-presidential-campaign |archive-date=April 16, 2019 |work=KJZZ (FM)}} He endorsed Kamala Harris after Swalwell dropped out, and Joe Biden after Harris dropped out.{{Cite web |last=Sullivan |first=Gregory Krieg, Kate |date=2020-03-06 |title=Rising progressive star Rep. Ruben Gallego endorses Joe Biden {{!}} CNN Politics |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/06/politics/ruben-gallego-endorses-joe-biden/index.html |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=CNN |language=en}}

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.{{cite news |date=12 June 2014 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2014/06/12/this-arizona-candidate-changed-his-name-his-opponent-wasnt-happy-about-it/ |first=Jaime |last=Fuller |title=This Arizona candidate changed his name. His opponent wasn't happy about it.|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=November 17, 2016}} In 2010, Gallego married Kate Widland Gallego, who was later elected mayor of Phoenix. They divorced in 2017 and have one child together.{{cite web|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2016/12/21/phoenix-vice-mayor-kate-gallego-and-rep-ruben-gallego-divorce/95721368/|title=Phoenix Vice Mayor Kate Gallego and Rep. Ruben Gallego to divorce|first=Dustin|last=Gardiner|work=The Arizona Republic |date=December 21, 2016|access-date=January 18, 2019}}

Gallego married Sydney Barron in 2021.{{cite web |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/483487-one-lawmaker-gets-engaged-another-married-around-valentines-day/ |first=Judy |last=Kurtz |access-date=6 March 2024 |work=The Hill |title=One lawmaker gets engaged, another married around Valentine's Day |date=February 18, 2020 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/huddle/2021/06/07/schumers-jam-packed-june-493143 |first=Nicholas |last=Wu |access-date=6 March 2024 |title=Schumer's jam-packed June |website=Politico |date=June 7, 2021 }} Barron is a lobbyist for the National Association of Realtors. Gallego and Barron also have a child together.{{cite news |last1=Kavaler |first1=Tara |title=Meet Isla Jean Gallego: Rep. Ruben Gallego announces birth of daughter |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2023/07/07/rep-ruben-gallego-daughter-born/70390217007/ |access-date=14 August 2023 |work=The Arizona Republic |date=July 7, 2023}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.harpercollins.com/products/they-called-us-lucky-ruben-gallegojim-defelice|title=They Called Us Lucky|website=HarperCollins |access-date=6 March 2024 }}

{{Election box begin no change|title=2010 Arizona House of Representatives Democratic primary, 16th district}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Ruben Gallego

|votes = 4,149

|percentage = 26.12

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Catherine Miranda

|votes = 3,476

|percentage = 21.88

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Cloves Campbell Jr. (incumbent)

|votes = 3,182

|percentage = 20.03

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Jim Munoz Jr.

|votes = 2,281

|percentage = 14.36

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Sandra Gonzales

|votes = 1,955

|percentage = 12.31

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Cristy Lopez

|votes = 842

|percentage = 5.30

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change|title=2010 Arizona House of Representatives election, 16th district}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Catherine Miranda

|votes = 19,197

|percentage = 39.46

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Ruben Gallego

|votes = 18,365

|percentage = 37.75

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Michael Gular

|votes = 8,551

|percentage = 17.58

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Green Party of the United States

|candidate = Angel Torres

|votes = 2,532

|percentage = 5.21

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change|title=2012 Arizona House of Representatives election, 27th district}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Catherine Miranda (incumbent)

|votes = 28,683

|percentage = 40.98

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Ruben Gallego (incumbent)

|votes = 27,522

|percentage = 39.32

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Daniel Coleman

|votes = 10,088

|percentage = 14.41

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Green Party of the United States

|candidate = Angel Torres

|votes = 3,702

|percentage = 5.29

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change|title=2014 U.S. House Democratic primary, Arizona's 7th congressional district}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Ruben Gallego

|votes = 14,936

|percentage = 48.90

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Mary Rose Wilcox

|votes = 11,077

|percentage = 36.27

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Randy Camacho

|votes = 2,330

|percentage = 7.63

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Jarrett Maupin

|votes = 2,199

|percentage = 7.20

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change|title=2014 U.S. House election, Arizona's 7th congressional district}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Ruben Gallego

|votes = 54,235

|percentage = 74.85

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Libertarian Party (United States)

|candidate = Joe Cobb

|votes = 10,715

|percentage = 14.79

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Americans Elect

|candidate = Rebecca DeWitt

|votes = 3,858

|percentage = 5.32

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Independent politician

|candidate = José Peñalosa

|votes = 3,496

|percentage = 4.83

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change

|votes = 150

|percentage = 0.21

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change|title=2016 U.S. House election, Arizona's 7th congressional district}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Ruben Gallego (incumbent)

|votes = 119,465

|percentage = 75.2

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Eve Nunez

|votes = 39,286

|percentage = 24.7

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change

|votes = 60

|percentage = < 0.01

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change|title=2018 U.S. House election, Arizona's 7th congressional district}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Ruben Gallego (incumbent)

|votes = 113,044

|percentage = 85.6

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Green Party of the United States

|candidate = Gary Swing

|votes = 18,706

|percentage = 14.1

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change

|votes = 301

|percentage = < 0.01

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = 2020 U.S. House election, Arizona's 7th congressional district

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (US)

| candidate = Ruben Gallego (incumbent)

| votes = 165,452

| percentage = 75.7%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (US)

| candidate = Josh Barnett

| votes = 50,226

| percentage = 23.3%

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change

| votes = 54

| percentage = 0.0%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 215,732

| percentage = 100%

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no change

| winner = Democratic Party (US)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = 2022 U.S. House election, Arizona's 3rd congressional district

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (US)

| candidate = Ruben Gallego (incumbent)

| votes = 108,599

| percentage = 77.0%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (US)

| candidate = Jeff Zink

| votes = 32,475

| percentage = 23.0%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 141,074

| percentage = 100%

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no change

| winner = Democratic Party (US)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = 2024 United States Senate election in Arizona

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (US)

| candidate = Ruben Gallego

| votes = 1,676,335

| percentage = 50.1%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (US)

| candidate = Kari Lake

| votes = 1,595,761

| percentage = 47.7%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Green Party of the United States

| candidate = Eduardo Heredia Quintana

| votes = 75,868

| percentage = 2.3%

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change

| votes = 850

| percentage = 0.0%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 3,348,814

| percentage = 100%

}}

{{Election box gain with party link no swing|winner=Democratic Party (United States)|loser=Independent politician}}{{Election box end}}

• List of Harvard University politicians
• List of Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States Congress
• List of new members of the 119th United States Congress

{{reflist|30em}}

{{commons category}}

{{wikisource author}}

• [https://gallego.senate.gov Senator Ruben Gallego] official U.S. Senate website
• [https://gallegoforarizona.com/ Gallego for Arizona] campaign website
• {{C-SPAN|77233}}

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Category:1979 births

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