“Growing up poor, all I had was the American dream. It kept me going as a kid sleeping on the floor, a student scrubbing toilets, a Marine losing brothers in Iraq. Today, too many Americans see their dream slipping away. I’m running for the U.S. senate to win it back for you.” (X, 1/23/23)

 

“I’ve been to war. I take the threats posed by our adversaries, by violent extremists, and by terrorist organizations very seriously. It is time for House Republican leadership to do the same.” (X, 11/3/23)

 

BACKGROUND + EXPERIENCE

Ruben Gallego has been a representative from Arizona’s third district since 2014 + is currently running for Senate from that state.

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Born in Chicago, Rep. Gallego is a second-generation American with a Columbian mother + Mexican father. He graduated from Harvard University with a BA in International Relations. After graduation, he joined the Marines + deployed as infantryman in Iraq in a combat unit that lost 47 soldiers in one year.

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Rep. Gallego began his career in public service as an activist working on ballot initiatives in Phoenix. He was Chief of Staff for a member of the Phoenix City Council + Vice Chair of the Arizona Democratic Party. He was elected to the Arizona State House in 2010 + to the US House of Representatives in 2014.

 

ON THE ISSUES

As a veteran Rep. Gallego is an advocate for service members + has introduced legislation to improve veterans’ services. As former Chair of the Intelligence + Special Operations Subcommittee, Gallego is a leading congressional expert on national security issues. He is a strong supporter of Ukraine in thwarting Russian aggression.

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Rep. Gallego has been a leader in expanding access to education including sponsoring the Teachers LEAD Act to support teachers + improve teacher retention. His advocacy issues include for universal, full-day kindergarten, expanded childcare, increased support for public schools + affordable higher education including for Dreamers.

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Rep. Gallego was a strong advocate of the Inflation Reduction Act, the bipartisan Infrastructure Bill + environmental stewardship, particularly for public lands and tribal territories.

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An advocate of Medicaid expansion, Rep. Gallego works to improve health care access for families by fighting for lower costs, prescription drug reform + comprehensive health care for all.

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Rep. Gallego believes democracy is at an inflection point given efforts to disenfranchise millions of Americans. He supported the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act + the Freedom to Vote Act.

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He advocates for sensible, comprehensive immigration reform including border security  + legal pathways to citizenship.

 

POLITICS IN ARIZONA

Arizona has emerged as a critical “purple” battleground state in recent presidential election cycles. Trump narrowly won the state in 2016 + Biden won it in 2020 by just 0.3%. Of the nine Arizona US House seats, six are currently held by Republicans + three by Democrats, including Rep. Gallego.

This election is for a an open seat held by Independent Kyrsten Sinema. Rep. Gallego's opponent  is former TV personality and 2022 Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake. An election denier + MAGA extremist, Lake has Trump’s endorsement. She will bring conspiracy-laden bombast to what promises to be a high profile, closely watched + contentious campaign.

 

Voter registration in Arizona (2023) breaks down like this: 34.7% Republican, 30.5% Democrat, 0.8% Libertarian + 34% “other.”

 

COMMITTEES + CAUCUSES
(as current Representative from Arizona’s third district)

• Armed Services Committee (Ranking Member, Intelligence + Special Operations Subcommittee)

• Natural Resources Committee

• Blue Collar Caucus

• Arts Caucus

• Hispanic Caucus

• Equality Caucus

• Progressive Caucus

• Baltic Caucus

• Medicare for All Caucus