 | This article needs to be updated. (November 2020) |
Ruben Gallego | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Arizona's 7th district | |
| January 3, 2015 | |
| Ed Pastor | |
| Member of the Arizona House of Representatives from the 16th district | |
January 10, 2011 - March 14, 2014 | |
| Cloves Campbell | |
| Norma Muñoz | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ruben Marinelarena Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | Harvard University (AB) |
| Website | House website |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 2000-2006 |
| Rank |  Corporal |
| Unit | United States Marine Corps Reserve |
| Battles/wars | Iraq War |
Ruben Marinelarena Gallego (; born November 20, 1979) is an American politician who is the U.S. Representative for Arizona's 7th congressional district. A Democrat, he previously served as a member of the Arizona House of Representatives, serving as assistant minority leader in the Arizona House of Representatives from 2012 until his resignation to run for Congress. Gallego was elected to Congress in the 2014 midterm congressional elections. His district includes most of southern, western, and downtown Phoenix, along with a portion of Glendale. He served as the National Chair of Eric Swalwell's 2020 presidential campaign.[1]
Early life and education
Gallego was born in Chicago[2] and is a first generation American with a Colombian mother and a Mexican father.[3]
Along with his three sisters, he was raised by a single mother.[4] The family eventually moved to Evergreen Park, Illinois, and he graduated from Evergreen Park Community High School.[5]
Gallego attended Harvard College, where he became a member of Sigma Chi.[6]
Career
After college, Gallego joined the Marines. After completing infantry training, he deployed to Iraq with Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment. 3/25 would lose 46 Marines and two Navy corpsmen between January 2005 and January 2006, according to the Marine Corps official website. Gallego lost his best friend in combat in Iraq.[4]
His desire to help fellow veterans motivated the formerly apolitical Gallego to get involved with politics. After a stint as chief of staff for District 7 City Phoenix City Councilman Michael Nowakowski, he was elected Vice-Chair of the Arizona Democratic Party in 2009. In November, 2010, he was elected State Representative for Arizona District 16.[7]
In 2011, he was named as a distinguished freshman lawmaker by The Arizona Republic.[8] Gallego's first successful bill granted in-state tuition status to veterans residing in Arizona.[4] Gallego supports the repeal of Arizona SB 1070. He considers education to be the most important long-term priority for Arizona.[9] In 2012, Gallego was elected assistant minority leader.[10]
He founded the group Citizens for Professional Law Enforcement, with the goal of recalling Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Gallego cited Arpaio's immigration policies and his use of taxpayer money to investigate Barack Obama's citizenship as reasons for recalling Arpaio.[11]
Gallego worked for Strategies 360 as Director of Latino and New Media operations. He also worked for Riester, one of the largest public relations firms in Arizona, and for Phoenix Councilman Michael Nowakowski.[12]
U.S. House of Representatives
Elections
2014
On February 27, 2014, Gallego announced his candidacy for U.S. Congress in Arizona's 7th congressional district.[13] Gallego resigned from the Arizona House in March 2014.[14] He was 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.
Mayday PAC, a super PAC seeking to reduce the role of money in politics, announced its endorsement of Gallego because of his impressive evolution on the issue of campaign finance reform.[15] On February 28, 2013 Gallego voted against an amendment that sought to raise campaign finance limits for federal candidates and abolish all limits for state candidates, HB 2523.[16] He has since been a vocal supporter of the Government By the People Act.[17]
Gallego won a five-way Democratic primary--the real contest in this heavily Democratic, majority-Latino district--with 48.9 percent of the vote. He breezed to victory in November with 74 percent of the vote.
Committee assignments
Caucus memberships
- Medicare for All Caucus
- House Baltic Caucus[18]
- Congressional Arts Caucus[19]
- Congressional Hispanic Caucus[20]
- Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus.[21]
- Congressional Progressive Caucus.[22]
- Blue Collar Caucus
Political positions
Civil rights
Gallego supports same-sex marriage and the inclusion of LGBTQ people under the Employment Nondiscrimination Act.[23]
Gallego has a 100% rating from the NAACP[24] and an 89% lifetime rating from the ACLU for his pro-civil rights voting record.[25] He also has a 100% rating for his pro-LGBTQ voting record from the Human Rights Campaign.[26]
Drugs
In a letter to the U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Gallego stated "I support full legalization of marijuana. As a member of the Arizona legislature, I introduced a bill that would have legalized marijuana possession and regulated and taxed marijuana in our state in a manner similar to alcohol. I wholly support these types of measures."[27]
As of 2016, Gallego has an "A" rating from NORML for his drug reform-related voting record.[28] He has a rating of 5 out of 6 for his pro-cannabis record from the National Cannabis Industry Association.[29]
Economy and budget
As of 2019, he has a 97% rating from the AFL-CIO for his pro-union voting record.[30] As of 2020, Gallego has a 17% rating from FreedomWorks and a 9% score from Club for Growth[31] for his economic voting record and a 47% voting record for his pro-business record from the United States Chamber of Commerce.[32][33]
Energy and oil
Gallego supports cap and trade legislation. He is in favor of carbon taxes and increasing funding for renewable, clean energy.[34]
Environment
Gallego opposed the Trump administration's proposed rollback of protections for the Tongass National Forest in southeast Alaska.[35] Gallego oppposed the building of the Rosemont mine in Arizona, saying the mine will have a "devastating" environmental impact. He has sponsored efforts to require operators of public water systems to report when lead is found in water.[36]
Gallego has a 97% lifetime rating from the League of Conservation Voters for his pro-environment voting record.[37]
Government reform
Gallego supports the Government by the People Act and he has co-sponsored efforts to introduce democracy vouchers and automatic voter registration.[38]
Gun law
Gallego supports gun buyback programs.[39]
Health care
Gallego supports Obamacare and opposed the repealing of the law.[40]
He has a 100% rating from Planned Parenthood for his pro-women's health voting record.[41]
Homeland security
Gallego is a Marine who served in the Iraq War. Gallego supported efforts to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell.[42]
Immigration
Gallego opposes efforts to deport undocumented immigrants while they wait to be eligible for citizenship. He has co-sponsored efforts to require lawyers for children who are at risk at being deported.[43]
Puerto Rico
Gallego supports Puerto Rico statehood.[44]
Social Security
Gallego opposes the privatization of social security. He also opposes people being able to put social security taxes in personal retirement accounts.[45]
Tax reform
Gallego supports increasing taxes in order to balance the federal budget.[46]
Third-party assessment
Gallego has a 9% rating from Heritage Action for America for his progressive voting record.[47]
Electoral history
| Arizona House of Representatives 16th District Democratic Primary Election, 2010 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Democratic | Ruben Gallego | 4,149 | 26.12 |
| Democratic | Catherine Miranda | 3,476 | 21.88 |
| Democratic | Cloves Campbell | 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 |
| Arizona House of Representatives 16th District Election, 2010 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Arizona House of Representatives 27th District Election, 2012 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Democratic | Catherine Miranda (inc.) | 28,683 | 40.98 |
| Democratic | Ruben Gallego (inc.) | 27,522 | 39.32 |
| Republican | Daniel Coleman | 10,088 | 14.41 |
| Green | Angel Torres | 3,702 | 5.29 |
| Arizona's 7th Congressional District Democratic Primary Election, 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 |
| Arizona's 7th Congressional District Election, 2014 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Republican/Write-in | Gary Dunn | 129 | 0.18 |
| Democratic/Write-in | Gustavo Ortega | 17 | 0.02 |
| Independent/Write-in | Samuel Esquivel | 4 | 0.01 |
| Arizona's 7th Congressional District Election, 2016 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Democratic | Ruben Gallego (Inc.) | 119,465 | 75.2 |
| Republican | Eve Nunez | 39,286 | 24.7 |
| N/A | Write-in | 60 | 0 |
| Arizona's 7th Congressional District Election, 2018 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Democratic | Ruben Gallego (Inc.) | 113,044 | 85.6 |
| Green | Gary Swing | 18,706 | 14.1 |
| N/A | Write-in | 301 | 0 |
Personal life
On August 7, 2008, Ruben Marinelarena changed his name 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.[48]
Gallego was married to Kate Widland Gallego (later elected Mayor of Phoenix). They divorced in 2017, just prior to the birth of their child.[49]
Gallego currently sits on the boards of Valley Citizens League, and the President's Community Advisory Board for South Mountain Community College.[50]
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.
- ^ "Guide to the New Congress" (PDF). Roll Call. Retrieved 2014.
- ^ "Ruben Gallego Is Sworn In As Representative From Arizona's 7th Congressional District". Congressman Ruben Gallego. January 7, 2015.
- ^ a b c Lopatin, Shari (September 2011). "Marine Turned Politician". Phoenix Magazine. Archived from the original on November 22, 2014. Retrieved 2013.
- ^ Miglieri, Anthony (March 19, 2015). "Former E.P. Student Sworn in as Arizona Congressman" (PDF). Mustang Monitor. 60 (3). Evergreen Park Community High School. Retrieved 2018.
- ^ Avi-Yonah, Shera S. (June 10, 2019). "Bipartisan Group of Lawmakers Introduces Legislation That Could Endanger Harvard's Sanctions". The Harvard Crimson. Retrieved 2019.
- ^ "Ambition, Life Experience Driving State Representative". South Mountain District News. May 31, 2011. Retrieved 2013.
- ^ Pitzl, Mary Jo (May 21, 2011). "Arizona House and Senate distinguished freshmen". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2013.
- ^ "Candidate Q and A: Ruben Gallego". AZCentral.com. Retrieved 2013.
- ^ "Democrats select leaders in Arizona House, Senate". My Fox Memphis. November 13, 2012. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved 2013.
- ^ Celock, John (September 25, 2012). "Joe Arpaio Opponents Form Super PAC To Unseat Arizona Sheriff". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2013.
- ^ "Ruben Gallego". Strategies 360. Archived from the original on July 9, 2013. Retrieved 2013.
- ^ "Ruben Gallego, Arizona State Rep., Announces Bid For Congress". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2014.
- ^ "Rep. Gallego resigns from Arizona House". Arizona Capitol Times. March 14, 2014. Retrieved 2016.
- ^ Sullivan, Sean (August 11, 2014). "A leading 'anti-super PAC' just backed three more candidates for Congress". Washington Post. Retrieved 2014.
- ^ "The Voter's Self Defense System". Retrieved 2016.
- ^ "Ruben Gallego - Gallego For Arizona". Archived from the original on November 18, 2016. Retrieved 2016.
- ^ "Members". House Baltic Caucus. Retrieved 2018.
- ^ "Membership". Congressional Arts Caucus. Retrieved 2018.
- ^ "Members". Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Retrieved 2018.
- ^ "Congressman Ruben Gallego Joins the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus as Vice-Chair for the 114th Congress". Congressman Ruben Gallego. February 24, 2015. Retrieved 2018.
- ^ "Members". Congressional Progressive Caucus. Archived from the original on October 22, 2017. Retrieved 2017.
- ^ "Ruben Gallego on Civil Rights". On the Issues. Archived from the original on October 26, 2017. Retrieved 2020.
- ^ "NAACP Civil Rights Federal Legislative Report Card" (PDF). NAACP. Retrieved 2020.
- ^ "Legislative Scorecard 2018". American Civil Liberties Union. Retrieved 2020.
- ^ "Congressional Scorecard" (PDF). Human Rights Commission. Retrieved 2020.
- ^ Gallego, Ruben. "Rep. Ruben Gallego Statement on Changes to DOJ Marijuana Enforcement Policies". Votesmart.com. Retrieved 2018.
- ^ "Ruben Gallego on Drugs". On the Issues. Archived from the original on June 26, 2019. Retrieved 2020.
- ^ "Congressional Scorecard". The National Cannabis Industry Association. Retrieved 2020.
- ^ "AFL-CIO Legislative Scorecard". AFLCIO. Retrieved 2020.
- ^ "Scorecard Legislator » Club for Growth". Club for Growth. Retrieved 2020.
- ^ "Congressional Scorecard - FreedomWorks". FreedomWorks. Retrieved 2020.
- ^ "2018 Congressional Scorecard". U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved 2020.
- ^ "Ruben Gallego on Energy & Oil". On the Issues. Archived from the original on October 26, 2017. Retrieved 2020.
- ^ "House Democrats to President Trump: Don't Kill Protections for America's Largest National Forest". Congressman Ruben Gallego. October 11, 2018. Retrieved 2018.
- ^ "Ruben Gallego on Environment". On the Issues. Archived from the original on October 26, 2017. Retrieved 2020.
- ^ "Check out Representative Ruben Gallego's Environmental Voting Record". League of Conservation Voters Scorecard. July 3, 2019. Archived from the original on September 10, 2019. Retrieved 2020.
- ^ "Ruben Gallego on Government Reform". On the Issues. Archived from the original on October 26, 2017. Retrieved 2020.
- ^ "Ruben Gallego on Gun Control". On the Issues. Archived from the original on June 12, 2019.
- ^ "Ruben Gallego on Health Care". On the Issues. Archived from the original on October 26, 2017. Retrieved 2020.
- ^ "Congressional Scorecard". Planned Parenthood Action Committee. Retrieved 2020.
- ^ "Ruben Gallego on Homeland Security". On the Issues. Archived from the original on October 26, 2017. Retrieved 2020.
- ^ "Ruben Gallego on Immigration". On the Issues. Archived from the original on October 26, 2017. Retrieved 2020.
- ^ Gallego, Ruben (March 28, 2019). "It is fundamentally unfair for the people of Puerto Rico - who serve in our military & contribute to our country - to be treated as 2nd class American citizens. I am proud to support legislation that will finally ensure 3 million Puerto Ricans are treated fairly. #PRStatehoodNow". @RepRubenGallego. Retrieved 2020.
- ^ "Ruben Gallego on Social Security". On the Issues. Archived from the original on October 26, 2017. Retrieved 2020.
- ^ "Ruben Gallego on Tax Reform". On the Issues. Archived from the original on October 26, 2017.
- ^ "Rep. Ruben Gallego". Heritage Action For America. Retrieved 2020.
- ^ "This Arizona candidate changed his name. His opponent wasn't happy about it". Retrieved 2016.
- ^ Gardiner, Dustin (December 21, 2016). "Phoenix Vice Mayor Kate Gallego and Rep. Ruben Gallego to divorce". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2019.
- ^ "Representative Ruben Gallego". Arizona State Legislature. Retrieved 2013.
External links
- Representative Ruben Gallego, official U.S. House website
- Campaign website
- Ruben Gallego at Curlie
- Appearances on C-SPAN
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Profile at Vote Smart
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
| Arizona House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Cloves Campbell |
Member of the Arizona House of Representatives from the 16th district 2011-2014 |
Succeeded by Norma Muñoz |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by Ed Pastor |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Arizona's 7th congressional district 2015-present |
Incumbent |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded by Tom Emmer |
United States Representatives by seniority 220th |
Succeeded by Garret Graves |
This article uses material from the Wikipedia page available here. It is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.