Ruben Gallego May Not Be Able To Run For The U.S. Senate In Arizona

Photo Credit: nymag.com

Democratic Ruben Gallego hopeful has claimed primary residence in both Arizona and D.C.

In 2022, Arizona Senate candidate Ruben Gallego purchased a house near Capitol Hill and claimed on a VA loan application that the Washington property was his primary residence, so he would be eligible for a special mortgage rate offered to military veterans.

However, Gallego and his wife have also claimed that the home they own in Phoenix is their primary residence.

Information recently brought to light, in a recent POLITICO article, showing loan documents for Gallego’s Washington property, where he declared Washington, D.C. as his primary residence, all while his campaign says he resides in Arizona. Politically, this information could be detrimental to the Democratic congressman’s efforts as he makes moves to take over Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) seat in what some are predicting will be a fiercely contested race next year.  With Gallego signing legal documents claiming DC has his primary residence could jeopardize his efforts to run for an Arizona US Senate seat.

According to the loan document obtained by POLITICO, Gallego signed for a Veterans Affairs-backed loan, agreeing to “occupy, establish, and use the Property as [the] Borrower’s principal residence within 60 days.”

According to the Zillow listing, Gallego’s Washington home has four bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms with hardwood floors, an in-law suite and a detached one-car garage.

The loan program is intended to provide veterans with better loan rates on primary residences. According to the documents, Gallego was loaned $940,000, in the form of a VA-guaranteed loan in a market where mortgage interest rates have drastically increased. The VA loans are provided with incredible advantages that allow veterans opportunities to purchase a home with little to no money down. In most cases, rates are lower, with mortgage insurance fees normally waived, which in turn offer the veteran complete loan costs to be lower.

Gallego had access for the VA loan since he served as a Marine from 2000 to 2006.

The D.C. home purchase and VA signed loan occurred approximately 11 months after Gallego and his wife Sydney Gallego refinanced their Phoenix home. When that occurred, the couple signed a deed of trust in which they agreed to make that Arizona property their primary residence for one year, as documents provided by POLITICO show.

As noted on Gallego’s Maricopa county property tax statement, he is currently benefitting from a homeowner rebate in Arizona that actually lowers tax burdens for residents who primarily live in the state.

The Gallego campaign contends that the VA loan lender was aware Gallego served as a congressman and permitted the arrangement knowing how he would be splitting his time between Washington, DC and Arizona.

In reviewing Gallego’s campaign website and reviewing this campaign announcement video, there is no doubt he claims Phoenix, Arizona has his residence.  No additional information has been released on possible repercussions from claims he primarily resides in DC and what that means for the future of his campaign.  Gallego has not been charged with any wrongdoing in how he completed the VA loan documents.