Before being sworn in today as the first Latino senator in Arizona’s history, Ruben Gallego returned to Somerton late last month.
Gallego, who defeated Republican Kali Lake on Nov. 5, attended the Somerton Tamale Festival for the second year in a row. He met with Yuma County residents and elected officials, including Yuma Mayor Doug Nichols, Somerton Mayor Gerardo Anaya and San Luis Mayor Nieves Riedel.
Gallego told KAWC he returned to Somerton to serve as a senator for all Arizonans, especially those outside of Phoenix and Maricopa counties.
“As the next senator, I need to talk to my constituents, get their support, and listen to what they need help with,” he said.
In addition to offices in Phoenix and Tucson, Gallego said the company plans to open an office in Yuma.
Gallego’s victory was unusual for Democrats in Arizona and across the country in November. He said he believed he won because he shared his personal story of growing up with a single mother and siblings, working odd jobs before graduating from Harvard and serving in the U.S. Marine Corps.
“We never gave up on rural Arizona,” he says. “We talked to not only Democrats, but also Republicans and independents. We didn’t get all the votes, but we showed respect (to everyone).”
Gallego said he will fight for all Arizonans, including when facing Trump. On the issue of border security, Gallego said he will wait to see how President Trump does on his promised immigration sweeps, but said what is needed is comprehensive immigration reform.
“Sweeps can be dangerous,” Gallego said. “They could bring in people who are U.S. citizens, which could create fear of police and could impact border trade.”
Gallego said he supports the decision to “respect the rule of law and target some really bad people who should be deported.”
Arizona Democrats once again nominated Yolanda Bejarano to lead the state party despite several losses in local and statewide elections. Gallego said she supports Bejarano, who grew up in Rolle, about 45 miles east of Yuma.
“It’s obviously been a tough year for the Democratic Party, but as I talked with her, she understood what we need to do to transform our party,” Gallego said. “It’s important to have working-class Latinos and Latinos[in party leadership]because that’s where the support is. People who understand working-class Latinos. It’s necessary.”
