Kate Gallego was elected Mayor of Phoenix Tuesday night, besting opponent and former City Council colleague Daniel Valenzuela.
Supporters at Gallego’s election night party at the Crescent Ballroom began referring to her as such soon after 8 p.m. when the first vote tallies went up on the city’s website, showing Gallego leading with 58 percent of the vote. She gave a speech soon after.
“I’m going to work as hard as I can to be a mayor for everyone, whether they voted for Daniel, or for residents who voted for me,” Gallego said. “If we’re going to build the city of the future, we’re going to all need to work together.”
The crowd chanted “Go, Kate, Go!” before the speech, and after Gallego finished, Alicia Keys’ “Girl On Fire” blasted from the venue’s speakers.
Several blocks away, at PAZ Cantina on Roosevelt Row, Valenzuela gave his concession speech.
“I can tell you I’m incredibly proud of the race we ran,” he said. “In the face of over a million dollars of outside spending and personal attacks against Wendy [Valenzuela’s wife] and me, we stood strong thanks to your support and your encouragement.”
“I congratulate Kate Gallego on her victory tonight and I wish her the best in bringing this city together,” Valenzuela continued. “Tonight’s journey may have ended differently than we hoped, but I remain resolute in my willingness to create a Phoenix where everyone matters; where everyone can chase their dreams.”
Gallego acknowledged Valenzuela’s campaign in her speech as well.
“I do want to take the time to thank Daniel Valenzuela for running,” Gallego said. “I know he still has a lot of service in front of him.”
Arizona House Minority Leader Charlene Fernandez appeared to be wiping tears from her eyes after standing onstage with Gallego at the Crescent Ballroom.
“I am very excited, and so excited for Phoenix because Kate will be a wonderful mayor for everyone,” Fernandez said. When asked whether she felt the campaign was impacted by negative ads and attacks, she said “[Kate] went right over it. She was focused, no distractions. She had her eye on the prize.”
“This is very exciting,” Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman said about Gallego’s win. “Once again, it shows that Arizona loves to have women lead.”
Gallego will be Phoenix’s second female mayor, preceded by Margaret T. Hance in 1976.
Council members Felicita Mendoza and Michael Nowakowski were in attendance at Gallego’s event, as well as Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs and other community leaders.
Gallego will be sworn in on March 21 at 10 a.m. at the Orpheum Theater. The next Phoenix mayoral election, this time for a full four-year term, will take place in 2020.
Contact the reporters at Rebecca.Spiess@asu.edu and jspevace@asu.edu.
