Ruben Gallego
Rubén Gallego | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2025 | |
| United States Senator from Arizona | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Kyrsten Sinema |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Arizona | |
| In office January 3, 2015 – January 3, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Ed Pastor |
| Succeeded by | Yassamin Ansari |
| Constituency | 7th district (2015–2023) 3rd district (2023–2025) |
| Member of the Arizona House of Representatives | |
| In office January 10, 2011 – March 14, 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Cloves Campbell Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Norma Muñoz |
| Constituency | 16th district (2011–2013) 27th district (2013–2014) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ruben Marinelarena November 20, 1979 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouses |
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| Children | 3 |
| Education | Harvard University (BA) |
| Signature | |
| Website | |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | |
| Years of service | 2002–2013 |
| Rank | Lance Corporal |
| Unit | 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines |
| Battles/wars | Iraq War |
Rubén Marinelarena Gallego (/ˈruːbən ɡaɪˈɛɡoʊ/ ROO-bən ghy-EH-goh; born November 20, 1979) is an American politician and Marine Corps veteran serving since 2025 as the junior United States senator from Arizona. A member of the Democratic Party, Gallego served from 2015 to 2025 as a member of the United States House of Representatives. He represented Arizona's 7th congressional district from 2015 to 2023 and was then redistricted to Arizona's 3rd congressional district, serving as its representative from 2023 to 2025. Gallego was also 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 included most of southern, western, and downtown Phoenix and part of Glendale.
Gallego was critical of Senator Kyrsten Sinema for her opposition to abolishing the filibuster and certain Democratic legislation. 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. Sinema later announced she would not seek reelection, and Gallego won the Democratic nomination unopposed. He defeated Republican nominee Kari Lake in the general election.
Gallego is the first Latino to be elected to represent Arizona in the United States Senate. After taking office on January 3, 2025, he became one of the first two Colombian-American U.S. senators, along with Republican Bernie Moreno of Ohio.