Kate Gallego Bio
Katharine Sarah Widland Gallego, known as Kate Gallego, is an American politician and member of the Democratic Party. She currently serves as the 62nd mayor of Phoenix, Arizona, a position she has held since 2019. Before becoming mayor, she represented the 8th district on the Phoenix City Council from 2014 to 2018. Gallego is recognized as the second female mayor in the history of Phoenix and one of the youngest big-city mayors in the United States.
Kate Gallego Early Life and Background
Katharine Sarah Widland Gallego was born on October 21, 1981, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Her parents are attorneys who relocated to Albuquerque from Chicago after the 1979 Chicago blizzard. Growing up in New Mexico shaped her early years, and she spent her childhood in a household that valued education and public service.
As a child, Gallego lived with asthma, an experience that made air quality and environmental issues personally important to her. She is Jewish and celebrated her bat mitzvah in Albuquerque. These formative experiences helped guide her later interest in public policy and environmental science.
Gallego graduated from Albuquerque Academy, where she served as student body vice president. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in environmental science and public policy from Harvard College. She later completed a Master of Business Administration at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, strengthening her background in economics and management.
Path to US Politics
Kate Gallego began her professional career in Arizona, working for the Arizona Democratic Party and the Arizona Office of Tourism. She also contributed to economic development and strategic planning efforts at the Salt River Project, gaining experience in both political organizing and large-scale operations.
Her entry into elected office came on November 5, 2013, when she was elected to the Phoenix City Council representing the 8th district. She was reelected in 2017, building a record on local issues. When Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton announced his run for the United States House of Representatives in 2018, Gallego decided to enter the race to succeed him.
She resigned from the city council effective August 7, 2018, to focus on the mayoral campaign. Her mix of policy expertise, business training, and council experience positioned her as a leading candidate in the special election.
Kate Gallego Career
Mayoral Campaign and Election (2018–2019)
The city of Phoenix holds nonpartisan mayoral elections. In the 2018 special election, Kate Gallego and Daniel Valenzuela advanced to a runoff in November 2018 after defeating Moses Sanchez and Nicholas Sarwark. Although the race was officially nonpartisan, both Gallego and Valenzuela were Democrats and had voted similarly during their time together on the city council.
Gallego defeated Valenzuela in the special general runoff election for mayor in 2019, receiving 58.6 percent of the vote. She assumed office on March 21, 2019. Her coalition included progressives, labor unions, the Arizona Republic editorial board, and groups such as Emily’s List, the Sierra Club, and the Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona.
First Term and Reelection (2019–2020)
During her early tenure, Gallego took on major policy debates, including police accountability. After the Phoenix police department recorded shooting 44 people in 2018, she proposed a citizens review board model. The city council ultimately passed a different version of the review board, crafted by councilman Carlos Garcia, by a 5–4 vote after Gallego and vice mayor Betty Guardado switched their support to that plan.
In 2020, Gallego ran for reelection. In November 2020, she was returned to office with the highest number of votes ever cast in a Phoenix mayoral election. She received 60.7 percent of the vote, while Libertarian write-in candidate Merissa Hamilton received 26.29 percent.
Current Term and Ongoing Priorities (2021–Present)
In August 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice opened an investigation into whether the Phoenix police used excessive force on protestors and engaged in the sweeping of homeless people and their property. The review also examined police handling of disabled individuals. Gallego has continued to engage with policing, housing, and transportation policy during this period.
On housing, she supported legislation that legalized accessory dwelling units on lots previously zoned strictly for single-family housing, a step aimed at increasing housing options in the city. In January 2024, she was appointed to the Transforming Transportation Advisory Committee, where she advises the U.S. Department of Transportation on improvements to public transportation.
In March 2024, Gallego announced her intention to run for reelection for another term, signaling her continued commitment to leading Phoenix.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among her signature achievements, Gallego’s 2020 victory set a record for the most votes ever received in a Phoenix mayoral election. She also stands as only the second woman to serve as mayor of Phoenix, marking a historic milestone in the city’s leadership.
Kate Gallego Career Wins
Kate Gallego has compiled a series of verified electoral wins across her political career in Phoenix, including city council races and mayoral elections. Her victories reflect steady support from local voters and a broad coalition of endorsements.
City Council and Mayoral Highlights
Gallego was elected to the Phoenix City Council for the 8th district on November 5, 2013, and was reelected in 2017. She went on to win the 2019 special mayoral runoff with 58.6 percent of the vote and was reelected in 2020 with 60.7 percent, setting a record for votes in a Phoenix mayoral race.
Other Achievements and Appointments
Beyond electoral wins, Gallego earned a national appointment to the Transforming Transportation Advisory Committee in January 2024. She has also drawn support from leading organizations such as Emily’s List, the Sierra Club, and the Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona.
Kate Gallego Family
Family Background
Gallego was born Katharine Sarah Widland to parents who are both attorneys. Her family moved to Albuquerque from Chicago after the 1979 Chicago blizzard, settling in the city where she spent her childhood. Her upbringing in a household rooted in law and civic engagement helped shape her interest in public service.
Personal Life
While attending Harvard, Kate Widland met Ruben Gallego at a charity auction following the September 11 attacks. The couple moved to Phoenix in 2004 and married in 2010. They announced their divorce in 2016, prior to the birth of their son, Michael. Gallego endorsed Ruben Gallego’s 2024 U.S. Senate candidacy.