Kate Gallego

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Kate Gallego is the 62nd mayor of Phoenix, Arizona, serving since 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, she previously served on the Phoenix City Council from 2014 to 2018.

Early life and education
Born Katharine Sarah Widland on October 21, 1981, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Gallego grew up with asthma and cared a lot about air quality. She is Jewish and celebrated a bat mitzvah in Albuquerque. She attended Albuquerque Academy, where she was student body vice president. Gallego earned a BA in environmental science and public policy from Harvard College and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. She later worked with the Arizona Democratic Party, the Arizona Office of Tourism, and on economic development for the Salt River Project. She met Ruben Gallego at a charity event after 9/11; they moved to Phoenix in 2004, married in 2010, and divorced in 2017. They have one child, Michael. She endorsed Ruben’s 2024 Senate candidacy.

Career before becoming mayor
Gallego built a career in public service and business settings, focusing on policy, economic development, and planning. She was elected to the Phoenix City Council for the 8th district in 2013 (took office in 2014) and was reelected in 2017.

Mayor of Phoenix
In 2018, with Mayor Greg Stanton running for Congress, Gallego ran in a special election to succeed him and resigned from the city council on August 7, 2018. The nonpartisan election saw Gallego and Daniel Valenzuela advance to a runoff; Gallego won the runoff and became mayor, taking office on March 21, 2019. She is one of the youngest big-city mayors in the United States and the second female mayor in Phoenix history.

Elections and support
Gallego was re-elected in November 2020 with 60.7% of the vote, the highest total in a Phoenix mayoral race. Her victory was supported by progressives, labor unions, and various liberal groups. In March 2024, she announced plans to seek another term.

Policy and issues
Early in her tenure, the city faced police accountability concerns after a number of shootings. Gallego supported ideas for a citizens’ review board to balance police transparency with department needs. A 2021 Department of Justice investigation into Phoenix police practices led to ongoing debates about reform; the City Council eventually adopted a revised oversight plan. She has also supported housing policy changes, such as permitting accessory dwelling units on lots previously zoned for single-family homes, to increase affordable housing options. In 2024, she was named to the Transforming Transportation Advisory Committee to help improve public transit.

Personal life
Gallego was married to Ruben Gallego from 2010 to 2017; they have one child, Michael. She remains active in Phoenix politics and public life, continuing to push for housing, transportation, and safe, accountable city services.