Ruben Gallego

Ruben Gallego
Born	Ruben Marinelarena 20 11, 1979
Birthplace	Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician
Known for	First Latino U.S. Senator from Arizona; Iraq War veteran
Education	Harvard University (AB)
Children	3
Awards	Combat Action Ribbon

Ruben Gallego (born Ruben Marinelarena; November 20, 1979) is an American politician and United States Marine Corps veteran serving as the junior United States senator from Arizona since January 3, 2025. A member of the Democratic Party, Gallego previously served as the U.S. representative for Arizona's 7th and later 3rd congressional districts from 2015 to 2025, and as a member of the Arizona House of Representatives from 2011 to 2014. Born in Chicago to a Colombian immigrant mother and raised in modest circumstances, Gallego worked through a series of jobs to help support his family before attending Harvard University and enlisting in the Marines, where he served in the Iraq War as a combat infantryman with the 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2024, defeating Republican nominee Kari Lake, and became the first Latino elected to represent Arizona in the Senate. Alongside Republican Bernie Moreno of Ohio, Gallego was one of the first two Colombian-American members of the U.S. Senate upon taking office in January 2025.

Early Life

Ruben Marinelarena was born on November 20, 1979, in Chicago, Illinois. His mother was an immigrant from Colombia, and Gallego grew up in financially difficult circumstances. According to his official biography, he "grew up poor and working every job he could find to help support his mom and three sisters," holding positions at a pizza restaurant, on construction sites, and in other entry-level employment during his youth. The experience of growing up in an immigrant household with limited financial resources shaped much of his later political identity and his focus on issues affecting working-class and Latino communities.

Gallego's upbringing straddled multiple cultural contexts. As the son of a Colombian immigrant, he grew up bilingual and with close ties to the broader Latin American immigrant community. His family's economic struggles were a defining feature of his childhood, and Gallego has spoken publicly about the impact of those experiences on his worldview and his decision to pursue public service. The combination of economic hardship and a strong sense of family obligation drove him to seek educational opportunities that could change his trajectory.

Details about his early schooling in Chicago remain limited in publicly available sources, though his academic abilities were sufficient to gain him admission to one of the most competitive universities in the United States.

Education

Gallego attended Harvard University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. His time at Harvard marked a significant transition from his working-class upbringing in Chicago. At Harvard, Gallego was exposed to a broader political and intellectual landscape that influenced his later career. The university's environment also connected him with networks that would prove useful in both his military and political careers.

Gallego's educational background at an Ivy League institution, combined with his experiences growing up in an immigrant household and later serving in combat, gave him a distinctive personal profile that set him apart from many of his political contemporaries.

Military Service

Following his graduation from Harvard, Gallego enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He served as an infantryman with the 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines, a reserve infantry battalion. Gallego served on active duty from 2002 to 2006 and attained the rank of Corporal.

During his service, Gallego deployed to Iraq as part of the Iraq War. His combat experience was a formative period that deeply affected his personal and political life. Gallego saw direct combat action during his deployment, and his unit suffered significant casualties. The experiences he endured in Iraq became a central element of his public identity and his later advocacy for veterans' issues.

Gallego later authored a book about his wartime experiences titled They Called Us "Lucky": The Life and Afterlife of the Iraq War's Hardest Hit Unit, co-written with Jim DeFelice. The book recounted the experiences of his Marine unit in Iraq and the lasting effects of combat on the veterans who served. The memoir detailed the physical and psychological toll of the Iraq War on the Marines of his battalion and examined how their combat service continued to shape their lives long after they returned home.

Gallego's military service became a defining feature of his political campaigns. His status as a combat veteran provided him with credibility on national security and veterans' affairs issues and distinguished him from many of his political opponents throughout his career.

Career

Early Career and Arizona State Legislature

After completing his military service, Gallego relocated to Arizona, where he became involved in local politics and public affairs work. He joined the political consulting firm Strategies 360, working in their Arizona office based in Phoenix.

In 2010, Gallego successfully ran for a seat in the Arizona House of Representatives, initially representing the 16th district and later the 27th district following redistricting. He took office on January 10, 2011, succeeding Cloves Campbell Jr. During his time in the state legislature, Gallego established himself as a vocal progressive voice and gained attention for his legislative work and political organizing.

In November 2012, following the general election, Gallego was selected by his Democratic colleagues for a leadership position in the Arizona House. This rapid rise within the caucus reflected both his organizational skills and his ability to build coalitions among his fellow legislators.

During his tenure in the Arizona House, Gallego was also active in broader political organizing in the state. He was involved in efforts to counter the political influence of Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who was a polarizing figure in Arizona politics. A super PAC effort targeting Arpaio's reelection drew attention to the political dynamics in the state during this period.

Gallego served in the Arizona House of Representatives until March 14, 2014, when he resigned to pursue a seat in the U.S. Congress. He was succeeded by Norma Muñoz.

U.S. House of Representatives (2015–2025)

In 2014, Gallego ran for the U.S. House seat in Arizona's 7th congressional district, which was being vacated by the retiring Ed Pastor, who had represented the district since 1991. Gallego won the Democratic primary and the general election, taking office on January 3, 2015.

During his decade in the House, Gallego represented a heavily Democratic district in the Phoenix metropolitan area that included significant Latino and working-class populations. He built a legislative record focused on veterans' affairs, immigration reform, and progressive economic policies. He served on several House committees during his tenure and was a consistent supporter of Democratic legislative priorities.

Gallego was a vocal critic of Republican policies on immigration and was active in debates over border security, particularly given Arizona's location along the U.S.-Mexico border. His dual identity as a Latino lawmaker and a military veteran gave him a distinctive platform from which to engage in national debates on both immigration and national security.

As a member of the House, Gallego also took progressive positions on a range of domestic policy issues. He advocated for legislation to support veterans, expand healthcare access, and protect the rights of immigrant communities. His voting record during the Biden administration reflected strong alignment with the Democratic caucus on most major votes.

Gallego was reelected to the House multiple times, representing Arizona's 7th district and later the reconfigured 3rd district following the 2020 redistricting cycle. Throughout his House tenure, he was considered one of the more outspoken progressive members of the Arizona congressional delegation.

Criticism of Kyrsten Sinema and Senate Campaign

Gallego emerged as one of the most prominent Democratic critics of Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema, particularly regarding Sinema's opposition to filibuster reform and her resistance to certain Democratic legislative priorities during the Biden administration. His willingness to publicly challenge a senator from his own state drew national attention and positioned him as a potential challenger.

Progressive organizations and Democratic activists launched efforts to encourage Gallego to run against Sinema for the Senate. The "Draft Ruben Gallego" movement gained momentum in 2021 as frustration with Sinema grew among progressive voters and organizations.

In January 2023, Gallego formally announced his candidacy for the 2024 United States Senate election in Arizona. The political landscape shifted when Sinema, who had left the Democratic Party to become an independent in December 2022, ultimately decided not to seek reelection. This cleared the field significantly for Gallego in what became a two-way race in the general election.

Gallego secured the Democratic nomination and faced Republican nominee Kari Lake, a former television news anchor who had narrowly lost the 2022 Arizona gubernatorial election and had become a prominent figure in the Republican Party aligned with former President Donald Trump. The race was one of the most closely watched Senate contests of the 2024 election cycle, given Arizona's status as a key swing state.

Gallego ran a campaign that emphasized his biography — his immigrant family background, his Harvard education, his Marine Corps service, and his decade of congressional experience. He focused on issues including veterans' affairs, immigration policy, healthcare, and reproductive rights. Gallego defeated Lake in the November 2024 general election, winning the seat and becoming the first Latino elected to represent Arizona in the United States Senate.

U.S. Senate (2025–present)

Gallego was sworn in as the junior U.S. senator from Arizona on January 3, 2025, succeeding Kyrsten Sinema. He serves alongside senior senator Mark Kelly, making Arizona's Senate delegation entirely Democratic. Upon taking office, Gallego and Republican senator Bernie Moreno of Ohio became the first two Colombian-American members of the United States Senate.

In his early months in the Senate, Gallego has focused on issues of particular relevance to Arizona, including immigration, agriculture, and border policy. He has traveled extensively within the state to meet with constituents and local leaders. In February 2025, Gallego visited Phoenix and Yuma County, meeting with workers, students, and community leaders to discuss workforce and immigration issues.

Gallego joined lettuce farm workers in Yuma to highlight the contributions of agricultural workers to the American food supply, reflecting his attention to Arizona's significant agricultural sector and the immigrant labor force that supports it.

On immigration policy, Gallego has backed legislation to protect vulnerable immigrant youth, including unaccompanied children and recipients of Special Immigrant Visas. In February 2025, he supported bills aimed at strengthening protections for these populations.

During a partial government shutdown over funding for the Department of Homeland Security in early 2025, Gallego engaged with Arizona media outlets to discuss the implications for the state and the broader political dynamics surrounding the budget impasse.

Personal Life

Gallego was previously married to Kate Gallego, who serves as the Mayor of Phoenix. The couple announced their divorce in December 2016. Gallego has three children.

As the son of a Colombian immigrant, Gallego identifies as Latino and has been active in advocating for Latino representation in American politics. His election to the Senate in 2024 was noted as historically significant for the Latino community in Arizona, as he became the first Latino to represent the state in the U.S. Senate.

Gallego's military service in Iraq has had a lasting impact on his personal life. His book, They Called Us "Lucky", co-authored with Jim DeFelice and published by HarperCollins, addressed not only the wartime experiences of his unit but also the personal challenges of returning from combat, including the psychological effects of war on veterans.

Recognition

Gallego's election to the U.S. Senate in 2024 was recognized as a historic milestone for Latino representation in American politics. He became the first Latino senator from Arizona, a state with a significant Hispanic population that had never previously elected a Latino to the Senate. His simultaneous entry into the Senate with Bernie Moreno of Ohio marked the first time Colombian Americans served in the upper chamber of Congress.

His military service earned him the Combat Action Ribbon and other recognitions for his service in Iraq. His willingness to speak publicly about the experiences of combat veterans, both through his legislative work and his book, has drawn attention to the ongoing challenges facing veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

Gallego's book, They Called Us "Lucky", published by HarperCollins, received attention for its candid account of the Iraq War and its aftermath on the Marines who served. The book contributed to broader public discourse about the human costs of the Iraq War and the experiences of enlisted service members.

Throughout his political career, Gallego has been recognized by various veterans' organizations and progressive advocacy groups for his work on veterans' affairs, immigration reform, and Latino representation in government.

Publications

• They Called Us "Lucky": The Life and Afterlife of the Iraq War's Hardest Hit Unit.HarperCollins.