FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Aditi Katti
November 10, 2023
United Food and Commercial Workers Endorses Marlene Galán-Woods for Congress in AZ-01
Phoenix, AZ – Today, United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) endorsed Marlene Galán-Woods for Arizona’s 1st congressional district and released the following statement:
“On behalf of Arizona’s largest private sector union, it is my honor to announce our support for Marlene Galán-Wood’s campaign to represent Arizona’s first congressional district,” said Jim McLaughlin, President of UFCW Local 99. “Now more than ever, we need to elect leaders who are do-ers, not demagogues. As an experienced community leader and veteran journalist, Marlene will bring a heart-forward, facts-first approach to Washington at a time when extreme vitriol and deep division continue to plague Congress and prevent progress. Without a doubt, Marlene is the best equipped candidate to reach across the aisle and engage in the discourse we need to get things done for working Arizonans.”
“I am honored to have the support of UFCW in this race,” said Marlene Galán-Woods. “For too long, David Schweikert has let workers down. Workers must be paid fairly, have access to safe working conditions, and receive their hard-earned benefits. I look forward to working with UFCW to continue to fight for working families.”
UFCW is the latest labor union to endorse Galán-Woods, following the Arizona Education Association, National Education Association, Professional Firefighters of Arizona and the International Association of Firefighters.
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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.
