Ruben Gallego

Gallego introducing former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at a campaign event in Phoenix.

On February 27, 2014, Gallego announced his candidacy for U.S. Congress in Arizona's 7th congressional district.[14] Gallego resigned from the Arizona House in March 2014.[15] 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.[16] 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.[17] He has since been a vocal supporter of the Government By the People Act.[18]

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 on Armed Services
  • Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces
  • Subcommittee on Military Personnel
• Committee on Natural Resources
  • Subcommittee on Indigenous Peoples of the United States (Chair)
  • Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands

• House Baltic Caucus[19]
• Congressional Arts Caucus[20]
• Congressional Hispanic Caucus[21]
• Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus.[22]
• Congressional Progressive Caucus.[23]

Ruben Gallego has a 0% rating from Heritage Action for America for his progressive voting record.[24]

Gallego has a 100% rating from the NAACP[25] and an 89% lifetime rating from the ACLU for his pro-civil rights voting record.[26] He also has a 100% rating for his pro-LGBTQ voting record from the Human Rights Commission.[27] Gallego supports same-sex marriage and the inclusion of LGBTQ people under the Employment Nondiscrimination Act.[28]

As of 2016, Gallego has an "A" rating from NORML for his drug reform-related voting record.[29] He has a rating of 5 out of 6 for his pro-cannabis record from the National Cannabis Industry Association.[30] 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."[31]

As of 2020, Gallego has a 17% rating from FreedomWorks and a 9% score from Club for Growth[32] for his progressive, anti-business economic voting record and a 47% voting record for his anti-business record from the United States Chamber of Commerce.[33][34] As of 2017, he has a 100% rating from the AFSCME for his pro-union voting record.[35]

Gallego supports cap and trade legislation. He is in favor of carbon taxes. He is for increasing funding for renewable, clean energy.[36]

Ruben Gallego during a National Resources Committee meeting in 2020.

Gallego has a 97% lifetime rating from the League of Conservation Voters for his pro-environment voting record.[37] Gallego opposed the Trump administration’s proposed rollback of protections for the Tongass National Forest in southeast Alaska.[38] 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.[39]

Gallego supports the Government by the People Act and he has co-sponsored efforts to introduce democracy vouchers and automatic voter registration.[40]

Gallego supports gun buyback programs. [41]

Gallego supports Obamacare and opposed the repealing of the law.[42]

He has a 100% rating from Planned Parenthood for his pro-abortion voting record.[43]

Gallego is a Marine who served in the Iraq War. Gallego supported efforts to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell.[44]

Gallego supports open borders and opposes efforts to deport unauthorized immigrants, while they wait to be eligible for citizenship. He has co-sponsored efforts to require lawyers for unauthorized immigrant children who are at risk at being deported.[45]

Gallego supports Puerto Rico statehood.[46]

Gallego opposes the privatization of social security. He also opposes people being able to put social security taxes in personal retirement accounts.[47]

Galleo supports substantially increasing taxes on private and public businesses, the middle class and higher net earners, in order to balance the federal budget.[48]