Sen. Ruben Gallego (Ariz.) has been held up as a model for the Democratic Party\u2019s future since winning his Senate seat in 2024, with colleagues praising his skills as a communicator who succeeded during a time when other Democrats have struggled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He has drawn consistent praise for his authenticity and for his ability to connect with voters \u2014 particularly Latinos, a key demographic Democrats have sought to win back in recent years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But this week, the junior senator from Arizona has faced questions that could taint his future political prospects \u2014 particularly if he decides to run for president in 2028.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The questions surround what he knew and when regarding the sexual assault allegations that caused Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) to resign his House seat and withdraw from the California gubernatorial race last week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) this week also came out accusing Gallego of his own misconduct, something flatly denied by the Arizona senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Luna told CBS News\u2019s \u201cThe Takeout with Major Garrett\u201d that a woman was preparing to come forward with allegations \u201csexual in nature\u201d against Gallego, as well as campaign finance violations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She also said Senate Majority Leader John Thune\u2019s (R-S.D.) office told her the matter was under investigation, but she did not offer any evidence to back her statements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A spokesperson for Gallego told The Hill that the allegations were \u201cright-wing conspiracy theories being parroted by a fringe far-right member of Congress.\u201d The spokesperson also said Gallego had not received notification or been contacted by the Ethics Committee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thune\u2019s office told The Hill that anything received from Luna about the allegations have been referred to the Senate Ethics Committee but refused to comment any further. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gallego was close to Swalwell and earlier sought to get ahead of the firestorm by holding a press conference in his office Tuesday to express his disappointment in his former friend\u2019s actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking to reporters, Gallego said he too felt betrayed, saying that Swalwell \u201clied to all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI fell for it,\u201d the senator said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The White House, seemingly sensing weakness, has sought to put pressure on Democrats generally over the issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt this week called the allegations involving Swalwell \u201cdespicable and disgusting\u201d and urged journalists to investigate how Democratic leaders and other lawmakers \u2014 including Gallego \u2014 knew about Swalwell\u2019s actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s also quite plausible \u2026 that there were many other Democrats in this town on Capitol Hill who knew about his perhaps illegal behavior \u2014 certainly his disgusting and inappropriate behavior. And why they were silent for so long?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think those are questions that must be raised of the sitting representatives \u2014 including Mr. Gallego.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Democratic strategist Anthony Coley said it is too early to determine whether the events this past week will permanently damage Gallego\u2019s political standing but argued that the senator\u2019s handling of the moment raised new concerns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf Gallego\u2019s press conference was meant to reassure potential voters, donors and activists, it failed,\u201d said Coley, a Capitol Hill veteran who worked for lawmakers including the late Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFolded arms and incomplete answers don\u2019t shut down a story, they extend it,\u201d Coley added. \u201cThe party faithful will want real clarity on his relationship with Swalwell before he gets serious consideration for higher office in 2028.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A second strategist was more blunt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think he is done,\u201d the strategist, who knows Gallego, said, referring to a potential candidacy in 2028.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gallego\u2019s name has surfaced in early 2028 conversations, driven in part by his appeal to voters Democrats are eager to court \u2014 and in some cases win back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The senator has a compelling personal story. He was raised in a working-class family before going on to attend Harvard, is bilingual and served in the Marines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the campaign trail in 2024, he leaned into that background \u2014 meeting voters where they were from boxing matches to rodeos, and making stops at construction sites to serve burritos and coffee to workers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAt a moment when the Achilles\u2019 heel for the Democratic Party is Latinos and working-class voters, this is his opportunity to rescue our country,\u201d Chuck Rocha, who serves as an adviser for Gallego, told The Hill earlier this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In recent months, the senator\u2019s allies have trumpeted the fact that he can travel anywhere \u2014 including red and purple districts \u2014 to help campaign for candidates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gallego has also developed a reputation \u2014 even by some Democrats \u2014 as a potty-mouthed politician who leads his colleagues in his use of the f-word on social media, according to an analysis by The New York Times this past week. The report found that the senator had used the f-bomb 77 times since 2000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Democrats say they are even more concerned about any potential allegations following Luna\u2019s statement this last week that could surface on Gallego at a time when the party is desperate to rebuild.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo much of his brand has been this straight-talking, new kind of Democrat, and I always say brand is everything,\u201d a second strategist said. \u201cBut what we\u2019ve seen this week is the exact opposite. He looks lost. He looks like a deer in headlights.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe\u2019s someone that Democrats were pretty invested in and that\u2019s why it hurts,\u201d the strategist added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the same time, other Democrats say Gallego shouldn\u2019t be held responsible for Swalwell\u2019s actions and that it wouldn\u2019t impact his political future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt certainly doesn\u2019t help him but Ruben Gallego\u2019s friendship with disgraced Eric Swalwell is not a major obstacle to the Arizona senator\u2019s rapid rise,\u201d Democratic strategist Brad Bannon said. \u201cThe relationship demonstrates poor judgment but sadly there\u2019s lots of that going on in Washington these days.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Democratic strategist Christy Setzer said Gallego \u201cdistanced himself thoroughly and effectively\u201d from Swalwell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019d be surprised if anyone besides Swalwell pays a price \u2014 unless they have similar issues of their own that have yet to be surfaced.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n