Marlene Galán-Woods is a 36-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 continued 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 founding the Mesa Arts Academy within the Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley, where she served as President of the school board, 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.
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.
So, 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, including 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.
But her journey doesn’t end there, and today Marlene is ready to take the next step. She is running for Congress because she can’t sit back and watch our freedoms and our liberties attacked while our politicians do nothing about it. She is running to be Arizona’s voice – ensuring our priorities are represented. She will be the courageous, truthful leader Arizona has earned.
Marlene’s candidacy is historic – if elected, she’ll be Arizona’s first Latina Congresswoman!
