Ruben Gallego
Ruben Gallego | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2025 | |
| United States Senator from Arizona | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2025 Serving with Mark Kelly | |
| 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 Serving with Catherine Miranda | |
| 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. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouses |
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| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | Harvard University (AB) |
| Signature | |
| Website | Senate website Campaign website |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | |
| Years of service | 2002-2006 |
| Rank | 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 serving since 2025 as the junior United States senator from Arizona. A member of the Democratic Party, he served from 2015 to 2025 as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Arizona and from 2011 to 2014 as a member of the Arizona House of Representatives.
Gallego was first elected to Congress in 2014. He was critical of Senator Kyrsten Sinema for her opposition to filibuster reform and some Democratic legislation. Democrats and liberal organizations encouraged him to run against Sinema, and in January 2023, Gallego announced his candidacy for the 2024 United States Senate election in Arizona. Sinema did not seek reelection. Gallego defeated the 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.