Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego faces an unusual challenge in his bid for Arizona's Senate seat: addressing his father's criminal history as a convicted drug dealer.
Just The News reported that Gallego responded to claims from Kari Lake, denying any ties to cartels despite his father's criminal past. He rejected the allegations of being "controlled by the cartels."
Gallego's public acknowledgment of his father's conviction came in response to Lake's accusations, which he characterized as a desperate attack from a losing candidate. The Democratic hopeful emphasized his family's efforts to overcome this "stain" and pursue the American Dream despite his father's actions.
Court documents obtained by Just The News reveal potential inconsistencies in Gallego's account of his family history.
While the candidate has portrayed his parents as divorced at the time of his father's arrest, legal filings suggest Jose Marinelarena was still married with four minor children when apprehended in 1995.
Furthermore, contrary to Gallego's claim that his father's construction business had failed, court records indicate Marinelarena was employed as a union carpenter, earning approximately $720 per week at the time of his arrest.
The arrest report details the discovery of significant quantities of cocaine and marijuana in Marinelarena's apartment, along with illegal firearms. He subsequently pleaded guilty and received a 30-month probation sentence.
Throughout his political career, Gallego has consistently distanced himself from his father's criminal past. In his memoir, he recounts avoiding contact with Marinelarena at his Marine Corps boot camp graduation, expressing anger at what he perceived as an attempt to "steal some portion of my achievement."
Gallego even changed his surname from Marinelarena to his mother's maiden name, Gallego, to further dissociate himself from his father's legacy.
He explained this decision as a way to honor his mother, who raised him as a single parent.
Recent records suggest Marinelarena had few legal issues following his 1995 conviction until a battery charge earlier this year. The Gallego campaign has not commented on the apparent discrepancies between court documents and the candidate's personal narrative.
As the Senate race intensifies, Gallego's unique family history continues to be a point of contention. While he has been open about his father's past, the conflicting timelines and details raised by court documents may prompt further scrutiny of his narrative.
The Arizona Senate race remains closely watched, with Gallego's personal story and his ability to navigate these family-related challenges likely to play a significant role in shaping voter perceptions as election day approaches.
