Democratic senator had relationships with two staffers and was ‘very flirtatious’ with others: report

Politics
17 Jul 2026 • 6:15 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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Democratic senator had relationships with two staffers and was ‘very flirtatious’ with others: report

Senator Ruben Gallego, an Arizona Democrat, had sexual relationships with two congressional staffers and was “very flirtatious” with others, according to a new report.

The relationships were with two aides to Texas Democrats in the House of Representatives and occurred during his decade as a congressman, the New York Post reported, citing unnamed sources. Gallego served in the House from 2015 to 2025 before moving to the Senate.

While the relationships were reportedly consensual and are not believed to have occurred when Gallego was married, one of the Post’s sources said they are a part of a broader “pattern of mistakes and missteps and judgment calls.”

When asked about the report by NBC News’ Frank Thorp V Thursday, Gallego said, “I’m not going to engage in gossip.”

The Independent has reached out to Gallego’s office for comment.

Ruben married his second wife, Sydney, in 2021 after filing for divorce from his first wife, Kate, in 2016.

Last month, the Senate Ethics Committee dismissed allegations of sexual misconduct and campaign finance violations against Gallego made by Representative Anna Paulina Luna, a Florida Republican.

“The Committee did not find evidence that your actions violated Federal law, Senate Rules or related standards of conduct,” read a letter to Gallego from the ethics committee that NBC News obtained.

Following the release of the committee’s letter, Gallego wrote on X that the allegations were “right-wing conspiracies peddled by far-right activists like Anna Paulina Luna, the White House, and their allies.”

Gallego said in response to the allegations: ‘I’m not going to engage in gossip’ (Getty Images)

The claims involving Gallego come as the Democrats deal with the aftermath of accusations against a former Senate candidate and a former congressman.

Democrat Graham Platner dropped out of his Senate race in Maine last week following an allegation of sexual assault by a woman whom he dated. Platner, who vehemently denied the allegation, lost support from prominent Democrats before suspending his campaign.

“This is incredibly difficult, because I know that some will think it's an admission of guilt,” Platner said in a video posted on X on July 8. “And it most certainly is not. We're not doing this because of the allegations, we're doing this because of the structures being taken away from us by those in power.”

Democrat Graham Platner dropped out of his Senate race in Maine last week following an allegation of sexual assault that he denies (Getty Images)

Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell, who was once a friend of Gallego, dropped out of California’s gubernatorial election and resigned from Congress in April following allegations that he sexually assaulted a former staffer and made other unwanted sexual advances toward women.

Swalwell apologized to his family, staff, and constituents for his past “mistakes in judgment,” but insisted the allegations against him were “false” in an X post.

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