Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego wins re-election focusing on sustainability, economy
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego sailed to victory on election night, winning a second and final term serving the nation's fifth largest city of 1.6 million residents.
Her re-election sets Phoenix up to continue growing the burgeoning technology and health care industries, building sustainable infrastructure to combat climate change and expanding public transportation options.
"I can't wait to work with you to build the Phoenix of the future," Gallego said Tuesday night. "We want a great city where we can really make sure for young and old that they have an incredible opportunity ... clean air, great parks, libraries where we read books and not ban them," she said.
She took the stage at the Arizona Democratic Party's election night watch party at a Hilton resort near 16th Street and Northern Avenue. She beamed as she spoke about her hopes for building a better future.
Phoenix needs to "do our part to fight climate change, to have a safer city. We want to make sure we have the most cutting edge but affordable health care. And we want to have a leading transportation system," Gallego said.
Perhaps no one was more excited than her son, Michael, who danced in front of her during her 3-minute speech. Gallego giggled and later told reporters she might save the video to show at Michael's wedding one day.
Election 2024: See Arizona election results
The mayoral election results showed a commanding lead for Gallego over her challenger Matt Evans. Evans, a software engineer, ran an acrimonious campaign filled with insults and attacks. It was a nonpartisan race where the mayoral candidates had no R or D designation by their names on the ballot. But Evans ran on partisan lines anyway, playing up his Republican affiliation and appealing to the MAGA faction of Arizona's electorate.
Gallego, by contrast, campaigned on making Phoenix "future proofed." She ignored Evans' attacks and instead spoke about shoring up future water supplies, diversifying the economy, attracting high-wage jobs and combating climate change.
She touted her work championing Phoenix's advanced water purification plant , which will help replace water the city is losing from the Colorado River due to drought. Under her leadership, the city also overhauled water standards for big water users.
Gallego also highlighted her role drawing Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co . to north Phoenix. The company is spending $65 billion building chip-making factories. It's expected to bring 6,000 direct jobs with a median salary above $88,000 .
Homelessness and police reform, other significant issues affecting Phoenix residents, were not focuses of Gallego's campaign. Her critics rebuked her for that even in the final hours of Election Day.
The Justice Department in June concluded a 3-year investigation into the Phoenix Police Department. It released a scathing, 126-page report accusing the department of routine brutality and discrimination, throwing out belongings of unhoused people, and acting with troublesome indifference for the well-being of children.
Justice Department investigators said they wanted a court-binding contract with federal oversight, known as a consent decree , to remedy the findings. But the City Council has refused, instead insisting that the city can reform its police force on its own. The council passed reforms in September, some of which were led by Gallego.
But residents were skeptical the changes would make any difference, noting that many of the reforms were remarkably similar to efforts the city had made in the past.
Since the report's release, Phoenix police have continued to use force in cases that have been criticized nationally. One such incident included the punching and Tasing of a deaf Black man with cerebral palsy who was falsely accused of theft.
Gallego refused to speak about the incident, declining multiple interview requests from the media. She instead issued a statement saying she shared "the deep concern" from some in the community, and pointed to the reforms council passed the month prior.
Poder in Action, an advocacy group focused on police misconduct, criticized that silence at a voting center Nov. 5. Some 30 activists chanted "No justice, no peace!" as they held a sign that said ""
Gallego and her campaign again refused to talk about it.
Taylor Seely covers Phoenix for The Arizona Republic / azcentral.com. Reach her at or by phone at 480-476-6116.
