FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Aditi Katti
September 30, 2023
Marlene Galán-Woods Statement on Schweikert Opposition to Avoid Government Shutdown
Phoenix, AZ — Today, Democratic congressional candidate Marlene Galán-Woods released the following statement in response to David Schweikert’s opposing vote to a bipartisan compromise on funding the government:
“Today, David Schweikert shouted from the mountaintops how dangerous he is. Once again, he voted with his extremist Republican colleagues to bring the government to the brink of shutdown rather than working across the aisle to benefit Americans,” Galán-Woods said. “Make no mistake — David Schweikert is a right-wing extremist. He has voted time and again to ban abortion, cut Social Security and Medicare, and critical assistance to women and children. Enough with these political games that only hurt Arizonans — we must reject him at the ballot box next year and elect someone who will fight for our right to choose, protect our seniors, and our workers. As someone who will always put Arizona ahead of petty politics, you have my word that I will rise above the partisan fray and deliver results for our working families in Congress.”
David Schweikert joined Republican extremists Lauren Boebert, Andy Biggs, Paul Gosar, and Marjorie Taylor Greene in voting against keeping the federal government open.
In addition to pushing for the government to come to a catastrophic halt, Schweikert voted Friday for draconian cuts to critical services that hardworking Arizonans depend on:
- Social Security — More than 100,000 Arizonans who receive Social Security benefits would also bear the brunt of these disruptions
- Medicare — Nearly 1.5 million Arizonans would see massive disruptions in receiving their Medicare benefits
- Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) — critical food assistance for nearly 150,000 women, children, and infants
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) — which more than 6,000 Arizona households depend on the heat their homes in the winter
- Housing assistance programs, including mortgage insurance and loan processing services that impact Arizonans all across the state
- Head Start — early education programs for 15,000 students, predominantly children with disabilities and families below the poverty line
These are just a handful of cuts to essential services that Arizonans depend on.
Arizona’s First Congressional District has been identified as one of the top pickup opportunities for Democrats to flip the House of Representatives. The Cook Political Report has rated this district a toss-up and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee named AZ-01 as one of their top priorities this cycle.
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Marlene Galán Woods is a 35-year Arizona resident, former broadcast journalist and mother of five children. Her parents fled communist Cuba looking for a better life for their children. Their risk paid off when Marlene moved to Arizona in the 1980s— it’s where she began her career as a broadcast journalist, where she met the love of her life, and where they would raise a family together.
While Marlene’s late husband, Grant Woods, served as Arizona’s Attorney General, Marlene was exposing corruption and holding the powerful accountable during her 20-year journalism career.
Outside of their respective careers, Marlene and Grant were dedicated to improving the lives of Arizona children, from serving on the board of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley to spearheading a local tennis tournament that raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to help underserved kids to helping found the Phoenix Children’s Museum. She is running to be Arizona’s voice — to represent our priorities and protect our freedoms. She will be the courageous, truthful leader Arizona has earned.
Though Marlene’s philanthropic efforts have focused on improving the lives of Arizona’s children, she has a passion for preserving and expanding the individual freedoms of all Arizonans.
She is a lifelong supporter of a woman’s right to choose and couldn’t stand by idly watching ongoing attacks on our voting rights.
In 2022, Marlene chaired the campaign of Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, and led a group of former journalists in calling out Republican candidates, namely Kari Lake, for their attacks on the media while spreading disinformation. Marlene’s dedication to the preservation of our democracy was recognized by Governor Katie Hobbs’ who invited Marlene to serve on her transition committee.
