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Ruben Gallego

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the writer, see Rubén Gallego.
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Marinelarena and the second or maternal family name is Gallego.

Ruben Gallego
Official portrait, 2022
United States Senator-elect
from Arizona
Assuming office
January 3, 2025
SucceedingKyrsten Sinema
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Arizona
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2015
Preceded byEd Pastor
Constituency7th district (2015–2023)
3rd district (2023–present)
Member of the Arizona House of Representatives
In office
January 10, 2011 – March 14, 2014
Serving with Catherine Miranda
Preceded byCloves Campbell Jr.
Succeeded byNorma Muñoz
Constituency16th district (2011–2013)
27th district (2013–2014)
Personal details
Born
Ruben Marinelarena

(1979-11-20) November 20, 1979 (age 44)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouses
  • ​
    ​
    (m. 2010; div. 2017)​
  • Sydney Barron
    ​
    (m. 2021)​
Children2
EducationHarvard University (BA)
Website
Military service
Branch/service
Years of service2002–2013
RankLance Corporal
Unit3rd Battalion, 25th Marines
Battles/warsIraq War
Gallego's voice
Gallego speaks in support of the PAVA Program Inclusion Act
Recorded September 29, 2022

Rubén Marinelarena Gallego (/ˈruːbən ɡaɪˈɛɡoʊ/ ROO-bən gy-EH-goh; born November 20, 1979) is an American politician who is a United States senator-elect from Arizona. He has served as the U.S. representative for Arizona's 3rd congressional district since 2015. A member of the Democratic Party, Gallego was 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 includes most of southern, western, and downtown Phoenix, and part of Glendale, where he served four terms in the House.

Gallego served as the national chair of Eric Swalwell's 2020 presidential campaign.[1] Considered a progressive politician, Gallego was critical of Senator Kyrsten Sinema for opposing filibuster reform and Democratic legislation. By the time he ran for the U.S. Senate in 2024, he had distanced himself from the label "progressive".[2] 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. As Sinema did not seek reelection, Gallego won the Democratic nomination unopposed. In the general election he defeated the Republican nominee, Kari Lake.[3] He is the first Latino to be elected to represent Arizona in the United States Senate.[4]

Early life and education

[edit]

Gallego was born in Chicago,[5] and is a second-generation American, with a Colombian mother and a Mexican father.[6] Along with his three sisters, he was raised by a single mother.[7] The family moved to Chicago suburb Evergreen Park, and he graduated from Evergreen Park Community High School.[8] Gallego attended Harvard College, where he became a member of Sigma Chi fraternity[9] and graduated in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts in international relations.[10]

Early career

[edit]
Gallego in 2013

Gallego was in the Marines from 2002 to 2006.[11] After completing training in the School of Infantry (SOI), he was deployed to Iraq with Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines. Gallego served as a lance corporal.[12] The 3/25 lost 46 marines and one Navy corpsman between January 2005 and January 2006. Gallego's best friend died during combat operations in Iraq.[7]

In 2007, Gallego led District 7 Phoenix City Council candidate Michael Nowakowski's successful campaign before serving as Nowakowski's chief of staff.[13] In 2009, he stepped down as chief of staff to focus on his campaign for the Arizona State House in District 16, which he won in 2010.[14][15]

In 2011, The Arizona Republic named Gallego a distinguished freshman lawmaker.[16] His first successful bill granted in-state tuition status to veterans residing in Arizona.[7] Gallego supported the repeal of Arizona SB 1070.[citation needed] In 2012, Gallego was elected assistant minority leader.[17]

Gallego founded the group Citizens for Professional Law Enforcement to recall Maricopa County sheriff Joe Arpaio, citing Arpaio's immigration policies and his use of taxpayer money to investigate Barack Obama's citizenship.[18] The attempt failed; Arpaio remained in office until losing reelection in 2016. Gallego worked for Strategies 360 as Director of Latino and New Media operations. He also worked for RIESTER, one of Arizona's largest public relations firms.[19]

U.S. House of Representatives

[edit]

Elections

[edit]

2014

[edit]
See also: 2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona § District 7
Gallego speaking at a rally for presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in 2016

On February 27, 2014, Gallego announced his candidacy for Congress in Arizona's 7th congressional district.[20] Although 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), Gallego resigned from the Arizona House in March 2014.[21] Mayday PAC, a super PAC seeking to reduce the role of money in politics, endorsed Gallego in 2014.[22]

Gallego won a five-way Democratic primary—the real contest in this heavily Democratic, majority-Latino district—with 48.9% of the vote. He won the general election with 74% of the vote. He has been reelected three times, never dropping below 70% of the vote. He is the second Colombian American elected to the U.S. House, after Scott Perry.[23]

2016

[edit]
See also: 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona § District 7

Gallego defeated Republican challenger Eve Nunez in 2016.[24]

2018

[edit]
See also: 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona § District 7

Gallego defeated Green Party challenger Gary Swing in 2018.[25]

2020

[edit]
See also: 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona § District 7

Gallego defeated Republican challenger Joshua Barnett in 2020.[26]

2022

[edit]
See also: 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona § District 3

In 2022, Gallego ran in the newly redrawn Arizona District 3 and defeated Republican challenger Jeff Zink.[27] Considered a progressive politician, Gallego, who has been very critical of Senator Kyrsten Sinema, was encouraged by several progressive organizations to run against her in the 2024 election.[28] He announced his candidacy on January 23, 2023.[29]

Committee assignments

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For the 118th Congress:[30]

Caucus memberships

[edit]

Political positions

[edit]
Gallego during a Natural Resources Committee meeting in 2020

In November 2020, the House of Representatives passed a bill, introduced in bipartisan fashion by Gallego and Republican Markwayne Mullin, that requires the federal government to reimburse healthcare provided for Native veterans regardless of whether the healthcare was provided by, or referred by, the Indian Health Service or tribes.[33] In May 2021, the House passed a bill Gallego sponsored, the Native VetSuccess at Tribal Colleges and Universities Pilot Program Act, that would have provided more government funding for Native American veterans. The Senate did not take up the bill.[34]

In July 2021, it was reported that a corporate lobbying group called the U.S.–Qatar Business Council paid for a $22,000 trip to Qatar for Gallego and his wife, who is a lobbyist for the National Association of Realtors.[35] Commentators noted that Gallego had previously criticized Sinema for allegedly being too close to business lobbyists.[36] Gallego opposed the 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade.[37] He has called for enshrining abortion rights in the Constitution of Arizona.[38]

In February 2022, Gallego called for expelling Russian university students from the U.S. Some commentators denounced these remarks as bigoted and xenophobic.[39] On February 9, 2023, Gallego voted against overturning the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022, which would allow noncitizens to vote in local elections in the District of Columbia.[40][41]

Gallego speaking to a U.S. Army officer in 2017
Gallego during the
114th Congress

In the 117th United States Congress, Gallego voted in line with Joe Biden's stated position 100% of the time.[42] In September 2023, the House passed Gallego's bill, the Native American Child Protection Act, which aims to set up a National Indian Child Resource and Family Services Center to assist and train tribes, tribal organizations and urban Indian organizations, and to forge state-tribe agreements to prevent, investigate, and prosecute family violence.[43][44] Gallego voted to provide Israel with support following the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.[45][46]

2024 U.S. Senate campaign

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Main article: 2024 United States Senate election in Arizona
The logo for Gallego's Senate campaign.

On January 22, 2023, Gallego announced his candidacy for the United States Senate in 2024.[47] The seat is currently held by Kyrsten Sinema, an independent who was first elected as a Democrat in 2018, and who has angered some members of the party due to her opposition to filibuster reform and some Democratic legislation. After Gallego entered the race, and with Sinema not polling well, she chose not to run for reelection.[48] Gallego had raised more money than Sinema in the first two quarters of 2023.[49]

Gallego with Barack Obama.
Gallego with Bill Clinton.

In 2022, Gallego bought a home near Capitol Hill using a special mortgage loan program for military veterans. He claimed the District of Columbia home as his primary residence although his campaign maintains that he resides in his Phoenix home. Gallego receives a homeowner rebate in Arizona that lowers the tax burdens for residents who primarily live in the state. Politico noted that Gallego "may have to explain why he declared he was primarily a resident of the nation's capital".[50][51]

Gallego, who had previously embraced his progressive background as "a fierce liberal combatant", has sought to strike a moderate tone in his 2024 campaign in order to woo swing voters. He once called Donald Trump's border wall plans "stupid" and accused Trump of "scapegoating immigrants" but by 2024 was "delicately turning to the political center". The New York Times wrote, "Gallego has built a reputation as a blunt-spoken liberal who is politically in tune with young progressives and lacerates his opponents with profane social media posts." While Gallego seeks to move to the middle, Republicans in Arizona are highlighting his co-sponsorship of the Medicare for All Act, his support for ending the Senate filibuster, and his suggestion to "take a scalpel" to military spending.[52] In 2018, Gallego rallied alongside Bernie Sanders, and in 2022 he called himself "a true progressive voice in Congress". By 2024, he no longer embraced the label "progressive". He let his membership in the Congressional Progressive Caucus lapse, which he claimed was a financial decision.[2]

On November 9, 2024, Decision Desk HQ projected that Gallego had beaten Lake in the Senate election in Arizona.[53] On November 12, the Associated Press also projected that he had defeated Lake.[4]

Personal life

[edit]

On August 7, 2008, Gallego changed his name from Ruben Marinelarena 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.[54] In 2010, Gallego married Kate Widland Gallego, who was later elected mayor of Phoenix. They divorced in 2017 and have one child together.[55]

Gallego married Sydney Barron in 2021.[56][57] Barron is a lobbyist for the National Association of Realtors.[6] Gallego and Barron also have a child together.[58] In 2021, Gallego, with Jim DeFelice, wrote the book They Called Us "Lucky": The Life and Afterlife of the Iraq War's Hardest Hit Unit, a memoir of Gallego's service in the war as a member of the U.S. Marines Third Battalion, Twenty-Fifth Marine Regiment, Lima Company.[59]

Electoral history

[edit]

2010

[edit]
2010 Arizona House of Representatives Democratic primary, 16th district
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ruben Gallego 4,149 26.12
Democratic Catherine Miranda 3,476 21.88
Democratic Cloves Campbell Jr. (incumbent) 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
2010 Arizona House of Representatives election, 16th district
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

2012

[edit]
2012 Arizona House of Representatives election, 27th district
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Catherine Miranda (incumbent) 28,683 40.98
Democratic Ruben Gallego (incumbent) 27,522 39.32
Republican Daniel Coleman 10,088 14.41
Green Angel Torres 3,702 5.29

2014

[edit]
2014 U.S. House Democratic primary, Arizona's 7th congressional district
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
2014 U.S. House election, Arizona's 7th congressional district
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
Write-in 150 0.21

2016

[edit]
2016 U.S. House election, Arizona's 7th congressional district
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ruben Gallego (incumbent) 119,465 75.2
Republican Eve Nunez 39,286 24.7
Write-in 60 < 0.01

2018

[edit]
2018 U.S. House election, Arizona's 7th congressional district
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ruben Gallego (incumbent) 113,044 85.6
Green Gary Swing 18,706 14.1
Write-in 301 < 0.01

2020

[edit]
2020 U.S. House election, Arizona's 7th congressional district
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ruben Gallego (incumbent) 165,452 75.7%
Republican Josh Barnett 50,226 23.3%
Write-in 54 0.0%
Total votes 215,732 100%
Democratic hold

2022

[edit]
2022 U.S. House election, Arizona's 3rd congressional district
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ruben Gallego (incumbent) 108,599 77.0%
Republican Jeff Zink 32,475 23.0%
Total votes 141,074 100%
Democratic hold

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ a b Tabet, Alex; Hillyard, Vaughn (April 8, 2024). "Ruben Gallego redefines himself as he seeks Senate promotion in Arizona". NBC News. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  3. ^ Vakil, Caroline (November 9, 2024). "Gallego defeats Lake in Arizona Senate race". The Hill. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
  4. ^ a b Cooper, Jonathan J. (November 12, 2024). "Democrat Ruben Gallego wins Arizona US Senate race against Republican Kari Lake". Associated Press. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  5. ^ "Guide to the New Congress" (PDF). Roll Call. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 3, 2018. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  6. ^ a b Kavaler, Tara (November 30, 2021). "5 takeaways from Rep. Ruben Gallego's new book They Called Us Lucky". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  7. ^ a b c Lopatin, Shari (September 2011). "Marine Turned Politician". Phoenix Magazine. Archived from the original on November 22, 2014. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
  8. ^ "Evergreen Park Community High School: Hall of Fame Inductees" (PDF). evergreenpark.org. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 6, 2024. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  9. ^ Avi-Yonah, Shera S. (June 10, 2019). "Bipartisan Group of Lawmakers Introduces Legislation That Could Endanger Harvard's Sanctions". The Harvard Crimson. Retrieved June 11, 2019.
  10. ^ "Ruben Gallego". Ballotpedia. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  11. ^ Eckstein, Megan (March 26, 2015). "Meet the Navy, USMC Veterans on the House Armed Services Committee". USNI News.
  12. ^ Saksa, Jim (November 9, 2021). "Gallego memoir offers blunt assessment of war, Harvard and Congress". Roll Call. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  13. ^ Tone of District 7 race leaves hard feelings. The Arizona Republic. November 10, 2007.
  14. ^ Wong, Scott (November 25, 2009). Nowakowski's top aide to run for House. The Arizona Republic.
  15. ^ "Ambition, Life Experience Driving State Representative". South Mountain District News. May 31, 2011. Archived from the original on March 28, 2014. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
  16. ^ Pitzl, Mary Jo (May 21, 2011). "Arizona House and Senate distinguished freshmen". The Arizona Republic. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
  17. ^ "Democrats select leaders in Arizona House, Senate". My Fox Memphis. Associated Press. November 13, 2012. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
  18. ^ Celock, John (September 25, 2012). "Joe Arpaio Opponents Form Super PAC To Unseat Arizona Sheriff". Huffington Post. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
  19. ^ "Ruben Gallego". Strategies 360. Archived from the original on July 9, 2013. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
  20. ^ Foley, Elise (February 27, 2014). "Ruben Gallego, Arizona State Rep., Announces Bid For Congress". HuffPost. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
  21. ^ "Rep. Gallego resigns from Arizona House". Arizona Capitol Times. Associated Press. March 14, 2014. Retrieved November 17, 2016.
  22. ^ Sullivan, Sean (August 11, 2014). "A leading 'anti-super PAC' just backed three more candidates for Congress". Washington Post. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  23. ^ Reinhard, Beth; Alfaro, Mariana (December 22, 2021). "Long before embracing Trump's false election claims, Rep. Scott Perry promoted groundless theories". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  24. ^ "Arizona U.S. House 7th District Results: Ruben Gallego Wins". The New York Times. August 2017. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  25. ^ "Arizona Election Results 2018". Politico. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  26. ^ "Arizona 2020". Washington Post.
  27. ^ Steinbach, Allison; Gonzalez, Daniel. "Rep. Ruben Gallego defeats Republican Jeff Zink in Arizona's 3rd Congressional District". Arizona Republic. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  28. ^ Carrasquillo, Adrian (September 30, 2021). "Draft Ruben Gallego effort launches as progressives seek to oust Kyrsten Sinema". Newsweek. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
  29. ^ Joan E Greve (January 23, 2023). "Ruben Gallego to run for Arizona Senate seat held by Kyrsten Sinema". The Guardian. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  30. ^ "Ruben Gallego". Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  31. ^ Mutnick, Ally; Perano, Ursula (March 6, 2024). "Sinema's exit sparks rush to the center in Arizona Senate race". Politico. He quietly ended his membership in the Congressional Progressive Caucus at the end of last year, according to a person familiar with his decision who was granted anonymity to speak freely.
  32. ^ "About Us". www.ccainstitute.org.
  33. ^ Jennings, Chris (January 2021). "Series of U.S. House votes aim to help Native American veterans" (PDF). Biskinik. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  34. ^ Goldenberg, Karli (June 2, 2021). "Bill Would Provide Better Education Benefits to Native American Veterans". military.com. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  35. ^ Leonard, Kimberly; Levinthal, Dave (July 10, 2021). "Photos show shirtless Democratic congressmen and their wives riding camels on a Qatar trip paid for by a special interest group". Business Insider.
  36. ^ Birle, Jack (February 24, 2023). "Ruben Gallego slammed Sinema for relationship with lobbyists, but he's married to one". Washington Examiner. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  37. ^ Fischer, Morgan (January 22, 2024). "Roe vs. Wade: Here's what Sinema and Gallego said about anniversary". Arizona Republic. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  38. ^ Vargas, Ramon Antonio (April 15, 2024). "Arizona Democrat says enshrining abortion rights in constitution best remedy to 1864 ban". The Guardian. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  39. ^ Jones, Sarah (February 28, 2022). "Xenophobia Is the Wrong Response to Russia". Intelligencer. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  40. ^ Dinan, Stephen (February 9, 2023). "House votes to overturn D.C.'s illegal immigrant voting plan". The Washington Times.
  41. ^ "H.J.Res.24 - Disapproving the action of the District of Columbia Council in approving the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022". Congress.gov. February 9, 2023.
  42. ^ Bycoffe, Anna Wiederkehr and Aaron (October 22, 2021). "Does Your Member Of Congress Vote With Or Against Biden?". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  43. ^ Randazzo, Ryan (September 19, 2023). "House passes Rep. Ruben Gallego's Native American Child Protection Act". Arizona Republic. Archived from the original on September 21, 2023. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  44. ^ "Native American Child Protect Act passes U.S. House". KNAU. September 19, 2023. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  45. ^ Demirjian, Karoun (October 25, 2023). "House Declares Solidarity With Israel in First Legislation Under New Speaker". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  46. ^ "Roll Call 528 Roll Call 528, Bill Number: H. Res. 771, 118th Congress, 1st Session". Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. October 25, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  47. ^ Altimari, Daniela; Weiss, Laura (January 23, 2023). "Rep. Ruben Gallego jumps into Arizona Senate race". Roll Call. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  48. ^ https://www.npr.org/2024/03/05/1236075522/arizonas-kyrsten-sinema-retires-from-senate
  49. ^ Mutnick, Ally (July 15, 2023). "Sinema outraised by Gallego again, further clouding her future". Politico. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  50. ^ Lippman, Daniel (June 5, 2023). "Democratic Senate hopeful claims primary residence in Arizona — and D.C." Politico. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  51. ^ Hansen, Ronald; Reagor, Catherine (June 6, 2023). "Rep. Ruben Gallego faces questions over terms of D.C. home purchase". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  52. ^ Browning, Kellen (April 10, 2024). "In Arizona's Crucial Senate Race, a Liberal Fighter Courts the Center". The New York Times. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  53. ^ Vakil, Caroline (November 9, 2024). "Gallego defeats Lake in Arizona Senate race". The Hill. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
  54. ^ Fuller, Jaime (June 12, 2014). "This Arizona candidate changed his name. His opponent wasn't happy about it". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 17, 2016.
  55. ^ Gardiner, Dustin (December 21, 2016). "Phoenix Vice Mayor Kate Gallego and Rep. Ruben Gallego to divorce". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
  56. ^ Kurtz, Judy (February 18, 2020). "One lawmaker gets engaged, another married around Valentine's Day". The Hill. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  57. ^ Wu, Nicholas (June 7, 2021). "Schumer's jam-packed June". Politico. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  58. ^ Kavaler, Tara (July 7, 2023). "Meet Isla Jean Gallego: Rep. Ruben Gallego announces birth of daughter". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  59. ^ "They Called Us Lucky". HarperCollins. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
[edit]
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Ruben Gallego
Arizona House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the Arizona House of Representatives
from the 16th district
2011–2013 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the Arizona House of Representatives
from the 27th district
2013–2014 		Succeeded by
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Arizona's 7th congressional district
2015–2023 		Succeeded by
Raúl Grijalva
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Arizona's 3rd congressional district
2023–present 		Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator from Arizona
(Class 1)
2024 		Most recent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by United States representatives by seniority
162nd 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ruben_Gallego&oldid=1258035367"