(The Center Square) – U.S. Sen.-elect Ruben Gallego of Arizona received his committee assignments before he is sworn in on Friday.
The incumbent congressman will join the Senate’s Banking Committee, the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Veterans’ Affairs Committee and the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
“Arizonans sent me to the Senate to fight for them, and these committee assignments put me and our team directly in the position to do just that,” Gallego said in a statement. “I’m excited to get to work and deliver solutions to secure Arizona’s border, reform our broken immigration system, bring down the cost of housing and energy, and support Arizona’s veterans.”
Gallego and the Democrats will be in the minority, as Republicans flipped the chamber in November and narrowly retained the House of Representatives. He is replacing Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, who entered the chamber as a Democrat but left the party and registered as an Independent in 2022.
The Democrat defeated Republican Kari Lake by over 80,000 votes, which made him one of the few in his party to win in a competitive race in Arizona last year, as President-elect Donald Trump and other Republicans swept many other races. Lake is now Trump’s pick to lead the federal government supported newsroom Voice of America.
Arizona has three new federal representatives this year including Gallego. Republican Rep.-elect Abe Hamadeh is joining the House to succeed Rep. Debbie Lesko, who will be joining the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors.
As for Gallego’s congressional seat, former Phoenix Vice Mayor Yassamin Ansari will be taking over his deep blue seat this week.