'Very flirtatious' senator in the hot seat as 'pattern of mistakes' uncovered: report

Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego, a Democrat widely viewed as a potential 2028 presidential contender, had sexual relationships with at least two House staffers during his decade representing Phoenix in the House, the New York Post reported Thursday, citing anonymous sources.

According to the Post, the 46-year-old acknowledged the two relationships — both with aides to Texas Democrats — to one of its sources, while a second source said they had recently learned of them. A third source confirmed one of the relationships. All were described by the Post's sources as consensual, and the sources said they likely occurred while Gallego was unmarried.

One source framed the relationships as part of a broader "pattern of mistakes and missteps and judgment calls," pointing to the imbalanced power dynamics of an elected official dating staffers. The source said one of the women was in her 20s and much younger than Gallego at the time.

"What else could there be out there?" the person asked.

A Democratic operative said she found the news "not surprising."

"I have witnessed firsthand his very flirtatious nature after a couple of drinks," she said. "Maybe he thinks he's being charming? I don't know. Guy gives me the creeps. I've always steered clear."

Relationships between lawmakers and staffers who work for other members are generally permitted under congressional rules, absent additional allegations such as harassment. That sets the reported relationships apart from the conduct that ended the careers of Gallego's former friend Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) and Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX), who resigned in April over allegations involving their own staff.

The Post's report comes weeks after the Senate Ethics Committee dismissed a complaint filed by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) that alleged campaign finance violations and sexual misconduct. The panel, chaired by Sen. James Lankford (R-OK), found no evidence that Gallego violated federal law or Senate rules.

Luna, who has continued to press claims against Gallego, responded to that dismissal on X.

"The good news about DC is everyone talks, and eventually the reporters come forward with your texts," Luna wrote. "Do yourself a favor and keep raising for your legal defense fund. Once a creep always a creep, and you're gonna need it."

Gallego has called Luna's allegations "right-wing conspiracies" and demanded an apology. His office and the two staffers did not respond to the Post's requests for comment. A third member of their circle, Rep. Jimmy Gomez, faces a House Ethics inquiry after admitting in June to cheating on his wife.