Congressman Ruben Gallego would like to keep the details of his divorce under wraps as he vies for the Senate, taking similar steps to those trodden by ex-Senator Martha McSally decades ago.
Gallego is on his last best hope for concealing the details of his untimely filing for divorce from Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, who was nine months pregnant with their son. Gallego filed in 2016 in Yavapai County, well outside of the county in which they resided at the time; their marriage lasted less than 10 years.
In interviews last year, Gallego blamed PTSD from his military service for his seeking a divorce. The congressman reported having behavioral issues: drinking and smoking too much, and an increased tendency to have “extreme outbursts.” The divorce records sought in court may reveal the nature of those outbursts, and what other problems arose from the excessive drinking and smoking.
The congressman filed an appeal with the state supreme court on Tuesday to conceal the records of his divorce. Gallego argued that the divorce proceedings contained “sensitive details” about his past relationship and his son.
Should the court not file an order before Thursday, the records will become public.
In a joint statement, the Gallegos blamed opponent Kari Lake for being behind the push to unseal their divorce records. It was the Washington Free Beacon that initiated the legal fight, arguing that most all divorce records — even the Gallegos’ — are presumed public records and the right of voters to know.
“Kari Lake will stop at nothing to score a cheap political point — even if it means endangering the privacy and well-being of our young son,” said the former couple.
In an apparent bid to counter the noise over the pending drop of his divorce records, the congressman also rolled out an endorsement from former President Barack Obama on Wednesday.
Failed marriages and the troubles they cause for campaigns seem to persist across time and party lines in Arizona.
12 years ago, McSally faced similar troubles in her congressional campaign over her brief marriage with Air Force officer Donald Henry. Like Gallego, McSally annulled the marriage outside of her residential county and had the record sealed. McSally sought annulment after two years, shortly after she secured a fellowship program slot and national security advisor role, prompting allegations that she married Henry for the sole purpose of securing an Air Force promotion.
It was the “why” behind McSally’s annulment of her marriage — and where she sought that annulment — that fed into the rumors of dishonest motives. Though McSally and Henry lived in Pima County, McSally secured the annulment in Santa Cruz County.
Voidable marriages include those with an undissolved prior marriage, one party being underage, the parties being related by blood, mental or physical incapacity, intoxication, absence of a valid license, duress, refusal of intercourse, and fraud and misrepresentation of religion.
In a memoir released in 2020, McSally offered some explanation for her first, brief marriage. The former senator said that she felt reluctant to marry Henry initially, though she never offered an explanation for those feelings or the eventual separation. McSally said Henry shared her feelings on their flagging relationship, but didn’t explain why.
