Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego, the presumptive Democratic candidate for the 2024 Arizona Senate race, is backed by big business, even though his campaign receives significant funding from corporate PACs and lobbyists. He has repeatedly criticized opponents for being
To Gallego swore He said he would take on big business if elected to the Senate, criticized political opponents like Republican candidate Kari Lake for accepting corporate money, and slammed lobbyists’ influence over public policy. Although Mr. Gallego continues to publicly criticize the activities of American companies in Washington and accuse his opponents of ties to business interests, his campaign has accepted donations worth tens of thousands of dollars from the United States. ing. lobbyist and Corporate PACand the disclosure shows. (Related: House Democrat Ruben Gallego says he wants the government to seize and redistribute truckers’ vehicles)
“One of the things I’m most proud of is that nearly every dollar we raise comes from donations under $50,” a September fundraising email from Gallego said. read. “That means if I go to the Senate, I won’t be tied down by a huge corporation or a bunch of lobbyists.”
In a January fundraising email, Gallego said Lake was backed by “billionaire supporters, corporate PACs, everyone on the far right, and the Republican establishment.” Mr. Gallego said in a February email that “corporate special interests” were opposed to his candidacy and wanted to send Mr. Lake to the Senate.
Ahead of Arizona Independent Sen. Krysten Sinema’s announcement of her retirement in March, Gallego also attacked her alleged corporate ties while pretending to be running a privately funded grassroots campaign.
“Kyrsten Sinema is raising millions of dollars from Wall Street, but small donations are fueling a grassroots movement fighting for hardworking Arizonans.” Gallego Said “Kyrsten Sinema is nothing more than a corporate shill, more interested in protecting Wall Street than working for everyday Arizonans,” he said. Said later that month.
“If you can, please make a small donation and help us defeat the bank lobby-backed senior senator in Arizona.” Gallego Said See Cinema, March 2023.
Gallego sent A February 2023 fundraising email criticized Sinema for collecting funds from corporate PACs.
The lawmaker has made numerous statements that support his allegedly anti-business stance.
“I’ve never been to Davos,” Gallego said. Said “But I think small grassroots donors will outperform corporate interests every time.” He also said: boasted “About not engaging in backroom deals with special interests of companies.” pledged Fighting “for Arizonans, not corporate lobbyists.”
As a senator, I will stand up to Big Pharma.
We deserve senators who will fight for Arizonans, not corporate lobbyists. If possible, hurry up for his $10 by his FEC deadline this Friday.https://t.co/7HA4rNoyDe
— Ruben Gallego (@RubenGallego) March 28, 2023
Despite repeated statements deriding the influence of corporate money in politics, Gallego’s Senate campaign plans to launch a PAC in 2023 partnering with corporate law firms, defense contractors, big tech companies and companies that sell nicotine products. , and collected tens of thousands of dollars from companies selling nicotine products. Financial sector, according to FEC records.
PAC, which is affiliated with major defense contractors Northrop Grumman and General Dynamics, Gave For example, $10,000 for Gallego’s 2023 campaign.
Google and Amazon’s PACs collectively donated $4,500 to Gallego’s Senate campaign, records show. show.
A PAC partnered with major e-cigarette and e-cig operators Juul Labs and Altria Group donated $5,000 to Gallego; according to In FEC filings.
Gallego accepted more than $80,000 from business PACs in 2023. according to on FEC records.
Gallego’s wife, Sidney Barron, lobbyist For the National Association of Realtors. Gallego reportedly supports the bill she is pushing. according to To the Washington Free Beacon.
“Ruben Gallego is literally in bed with corporate lobbyists,” a spokesperson for Lake told the Daily Caller News Foundation. “We’re not going to get any closer, right?”
While he widely criticized lobbyists and sought to distance himself from them by touting small-dollar donors, Gallego also raked in cash from lobbyists, disclosures show.
Mr. Gallego received about $50,000 from lobbyists during the 2022-2024 election period, according to lobbying disclosures. The lobbyists who donated to Gallego master Card, Rivian, Amazon, general motors, jet blue, CVS and intelamong other companies.
For example, Andrew Rosenberg, a lobbyist at Thorn Run Partners, said: lobbied for Pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly and Company has since donated thousands of dollars to Gallego. 2022and the disclosure shows.
Arizona’s Senate race is shaping up to be one of the most competitive races. Competitiveness The control of the upper chamber may be determined by the state of the copper. Gallego will likely face Lake in November.
Gallego currently has a significant funding advantage over Lake, according to FEC records. show.
The Gallego camp did not respond to DCNF’s request for comment.
All content produced by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent, nonpartisan news distribution service, is available free of charge to legitimate news publishers with large audiences. All republished articles must include our logo, reporter byline, and DCNF affiliation. If you have any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact us at licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
