Appeals Court Orders Release of Gallegos’ Divorce Records

The Arizona Court of Appeals has ruled to unseal the divorce records of U.S. Congressman Ruben Gallego and Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, a decision that could have implications in his U.S. Senate campaign. This ruling follows a lawsuit initiated by the Washington Free Beacon, a conservative news outlet, which argued for transparency after Gallego publicly discussed his divorce.

The Beacon has sought access to the divorce records stemming from the couple’s split in 2017, which took place at the Yavapai County Superior Court. Gallego is currently campaigning for a U.S. Senate seat, as incumbent Kyrsten Sinema has opted not to run for reelection. Although divorce records are typically not sealed in Arizona, the Gallegos had previously requested the court to keep their records confidential, citing privacy concerns.

After the Beacon filed its lawsuit, the Gallegos proposed that the court release a redacted version of their records, hoping to protect sensitive financial details and information regarding their minor child. While the court approved some redactions, it denied others, leading the Gallegos to appeal. Ultimately, the appeals court upheld the lower court’s ruling, stating the Gallegos did not demonstrate sufficient justification to prevent public access to the documents.

Ruben and Kate Gallego were married in 2010, and their divorce was finalized in 2017 when Kate was nearing her due date. Ruben later remarried Sydney Barron, a lobbyist, in 2021, and they welcomed a daughter in 2023. Kate has continued to support Ruben’s political ambitions and endorsed his Senate campaign.

The Republican challenger, Kari Lake, has used the circumstances of Gallego’s divorce in her campaign rhetoric, claiming he abandoned his wife late in her pregnancy. In response, Ruben and Kate released a joint statement criticizing Lake for invading their family privacy for political gain. They emphasized their commitment to their child and condemned Lake’s tactics as shameful.

In interviews, Gallego has attributed aspects of his divorce to post-traumatic stress disorder stemming from his military service in Iraq. He highlighted the personal challenges he faced, including struggles with alcohol and emotional outbursts as he dealt with the aftermath of war.

The recent court ruling arrived just days after the only scheduled debate between Gallego and Lake and coincided with the start of early voting in Arizona. Current polls indicate Gallego holds a significant lead, with FiveThirtyEight’s analysis showing an approximately 8-point advantage over Lake.

Following the debate, questions arose regarding Gallego’s divorce. Lake’s campaign representatives have expressed concern over the sealing of the records, suggesting that the public deserves to know more about Gallego’s past. They argue that the situation warrants increased scrutiny as the election season unfolds.