By Sam Barron | Sunday, April 5, 2026, 7:25 PM EDT
Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego, a Democrat from Arizona, revealed on Monday that he is considering a bid for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028.
“Like any elected official—especially those who won red states in 2024—we have to look at this carefully,” Gallego stated during an interview with NBC News.
Gallego emphasized that whoever wins the presidency in 2028 must secure at least 62% of the Latino vote, calling it the “pass go” line on a Monopoly board: “We didn’t hit that in 2024 and that’s why we find ourselves in this situation.”
Gallego, who was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2024 despite President Donald Trump carrying his swing state, noted he would need family approval before entering the race.
“I have three kids now,” Gallego said. “We’re a young family and might want more children. I have to make sure I can handle this role effectively.”
He added that if another candidate could win, he wouldn’t feel the need to be overly self-promotional: “If someone else wins, there’s no reason for me to be egotistical about it.”
Gallego described his potential run as an extension of his service to the country. “It’s not easy being away from your family,” he said. “It’s not easy sacrificing everyday things like time with your children.”
The senator also stressed that Democrats must rebuild Latino voter engagement, citing recent exit polls: In 2024, Kamala Harris won the Latino vote by 51% to 46%, while Joe Biden secured it at 65% to 32%.
“If you want this country to do better and become the best in the world, you must invest in Latinos,” Gallego declared. “We are the future, the population, the market, the workers, and the consumers.”
Gallego also rejected calls among some Democrats to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). “If you talk to working-class Latinos,” he said, “we have too much experience with immigration.”
He argued that ICE must be reformed: “We need to right-size it. We need to pen it in so it’s not being abusive.” But he dismissed the idea of eliminating immigration enforcement as unrealistic.
Gallego has nearly two decades of experience covering politics, crime, and business.
