U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) has been officially endorsed by the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community for his 2024 Senate run in the state of Arizona.

The endorsement is the first in the race by any of Arizona’s 22 federally recognized tribes. Gallego said he hopes to take on the task of visiting every one of the tribal nations before election day as part of his “go everywhere and talk to everyone” approach.

“When our right to vote was under attack and the validity of our votes was being questioned, Congressman Gallego fought to protect our right, and the right of all Arizonans, to participate in our democracy. We need a leader like that in the United States Senate,” said SRPMIC President Martin Harvier. “The congressman’s historic tenure as chairman of the Indigenous Peoples Subcommittee in the House Natural Resources Committee during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic set the stage for the largest investment in tribal communities in history. He was there for us when we needed it most, and I am proud to say that I look forward to working with him as the next senator from the state of Arizona.”

“The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community contributes so much to our state, and I am honored to have earned their endorsement,” Gallego said in a statement. “President Harvier and the entire Tribal Council have been tireless advocates, and I am grateful for our longtime partnership as we’ve worked to protect voting rights, infrastructure and the safety of Native families. Our work together to pass our bipartisan Native American Child Protection Act has been particularly rewarding, and I look forward to continuing to build on our successes in the years to come.”

In February 2023, Gallego held a press conference with SRPMIC leadership and other Arizona Native leaders at the SRPMIC Family Advocacy Center to discuss the importance of the Native American Child Protection Act.

This month Gallego released a new report detailing his fight to make life more affordable for families at home by tackling prescription drug prices, making food more affordable, permanently expanding the Child Tax Credit and addressing affordable housing and rent prices, among others.

As a ranking member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations, Gallego recently called for the United States to re-designate the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization and has supported Israel in the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Gallego also helped pass the “Carcieri Fix” bill, which advanced tribal sovereignty and championed investing in infrastructure on tribal land, and he held the first-ever U.S. House hearing on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women when he was the chairman of the Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples.

Other Arizona leaders who have endorsed Gallego include U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva, Corporation Commissioner Anna Tovar, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, Tucson Mayor Regina Romero, Democratic Senate Leader Mitzi Epstein, State Sen. Eva Diaz, State Sen. Catherine Miranda, State Sen. Theresa Hatathlie, State Sen. Flavio Bravo, State Rep. Stephanie Stahl-Hamilton, State Rep. Athena Salman, State Rep. Analise Ortiz, State Rep. Stacey Travers, State Rep. Patty Contreras, State Rep. Marcelino Quiñonez, State Rep. Oscar De Los Santos, Pima County Attorney Laura Conover, Tempe Mayor Corey Woods, Tolleson Mayor Juan F. Rodriguez, Glendale Vice Mayor Jamie Aldama, Mesa Vice Mayor Francisco Heredia, Phoenix Vice Mayor Yassamin Ansari, former U.S. Sen. Dennis DeConcini, former U.S. Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick and former U.S. Rep. Ron Barber.