Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

choie

(6,630 posts)
Sun Dec 7, 2025, 06:28 PM Dec 7

Ruben Gallego's leaked texts mocking Democrats' looks & masculinity intensify temperament concerns

First-year U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona is facing intensified scrutiny after leaked text messages showed the Democrat deriding the appearance of women and men in his own party. The comments mirror far-right rhetoric about gender and deepen concerns about his recent repositioning on LGBTQ+ issues.

In the messages, first circulated by a conservative outlet and reported by People last week Gallego, who started his first term in the U.S. Senate in January after previously serving in the House, complained that Democrats are “not allowing men to be men” or “women to be hot,” and wrote, “Dem women look like Dem men and Dem men look like women.” He also lamented that Democrats had become “the not fun party” and no longer embodied “sex, drugs, and rock and roll.”

He made some of these remarks after receiving a meme that included an image of 82-year-old Connecticut U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, a fellow Democrat.

The remarks came at a moment of escalating political and legislative hostility toward transgender Americans. Seeing a Democratic senator, who replaced Democrat-turned-independent bisexual Sen. Krysten Sinema, use the same gender-policing language deployed by anti-trans commentators has alarmed advocates, who say the rhetoric legitimizes narratives that treat gender nonconformity as a cultural defect rather than a civil rights issue, independent journalist Erin Reed notes on her Substack newsletter Erin in the Morning.

The revelations about his texts also come after months of movement by Gallego away from previously held support for transgender rights. In May, The Advocate reported that Gallego described concerns about transgender girls in sports as “legitimate,” a shift LGBTQ+ groups warned would empower discriminatory policymaking. He later voted for a defense bill containing a ban on gender-affirming surgeries for military personnel.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/ruben-gallego-leaked-texts-mocking-212113278.html

65 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Ruben Gallego's leaked texts mocking Democrats' looks & masculinity intensify temperament concerns (Original Post) choie Dec 7 OP
Woah! Not good, Sen. electric_blue68 Dec 7 #1
Which reminds me, why do people do such stupid shit? BeyondGeography Dec 7 #2
They can't help but reveal choie Dec 7 #4
His statements are as inane as they are ill-advised BeyondGeography Dec 7 #5
Better to find out now. yourout Dec 7 #3
Not to mention the millions in donations from the cryptobros for his yes vote on the GENIUS act. Nt Fiendish Thingy Dec 7 #6
So men just need to look like men (whatever that means) senseandsensibility Dec 7 #7
I Always Have To Question... ProfessorGAC Dec 7 #8
This. mr715 Dec 7 #12
How do you mean? choie Dec 7 #13
I Said No Such Thing ProfessorGAC Dec 7 #19
I wasn't accusing you of anything. choie Dec 7 #21
This Ferrets are Cool Dec 8 #55
You're correct and someone like me that grew up without email or texts knows implicitly never to put anything in writing Midwestern Democrat Dec 7 #20
Disappointing. IcyPeas Dec 7 #9
Golden! Don't forget about Golden! mr715 Dec 7 #11
and jaymac Dec 8 #51
With respect to Sen. Gallego mr715 Dec 7 #10
Right! FHRRK Dec 7 #33
Lol, you're right Polybius Dec 7 #35
What is with Arizona Democrats aside from Mark Kelly? Ritabert Dec 7 #14
Is it real... 2naSalit Dec 7 #15
Real Polybius Dec 7 #37
Yeah, He's Heartbroken Deep State Witch Dec 10 #65
It seems more like criticism of feminists or women's rights JI7 Dec 7 #16
Shame on him. La Coliniere Dec 7 #17
When can we primary this jerk? intheflow Dec 7 #18
5 years from now Anxy Dec 8 #47
... Solly Mack Dec 7 #22
Well said. Mocking people smells of exclusivity. Raven123 Dec 7 #27
I could mock him, but I won't. I mean, men do come in all shapes, sizes, and levels of hotness. Solly Mack Dec 7 #44
When did he make these remarks? If it was a while ago then we could cut some slack though LymphocyteLover Dec 7 #31
The lack of an apology gave me pause too. Solly Mack Dec 7 #43
"Does he mean let more people in who think as he does?" -- it sounds like it to me orleans Dec 7 #36
I'm sure I wouldn't meet his definition of hot. Thankfully. Solly Mack Dec 7 #45
as with Trump Skittles Dec 8 #50
I was wondering since dem men look like women and he is a dem man, does he think he looks like a woman? Solly Mack Dec 9 #57
I could be wrong, H2O Man Dec 9 #61
heh Solly Mack Dec 9 #62
I wonder what trump looks like to Gallego. Tikki Dec 7 #23
Glad I never sent him any money. milestogo Dec 7 #24
Message auto-removed Name removed Dec 7 #25
I've heard a Dem say something similar. But there's too much shit going on for this to be a major issue LymphocyteLover Dec 7 #32
F him and I am so sorry for anyone that sent him money or ALBliberal Dec 7 #26
I was one those who donated to his campaign. So disappointed. n/t iluvtennis Dec 7 #29
Hey I was previously impressed by the guy ALBliberal Dec 7 #30
😡 AllyCat Dec 7 #28
disappointing Kali Dec 7 #34
I'm sorry, but how is this not all over the news? Polybius Dec 7 #38
Because there's a lot of other news maxsolomon Dec 9 #58
But when Fetterman says something even mildly controversial, it's all over the news n/t Polybius Dec 9 #59
Well, clearly, the news is biased in favor of Gallego maxsolomon Dec 10 #63
Trojan horse? spudspud Dec 7 #39
Rep. Grijalva looks great! What a stupid thing to say wolfie001 Dec 7 #40
Do we HAVE to always have a DINO as a Senator from Arizona??? regnaD kciN Dec 7 #41
What a pitifully shallow individual. lostnfound Dec 7 #42
Sexist comments -- and denying civil rights to trans folks TommyT139 Dec 8 #46
Disappointing, but better than Kari Lake. n/t Coventina Dec 8 #48
The texts are cringey fujiyamasan Dec 8 #49
Just looked up a picture of him and Luciferous Dec 8 #52
He loves crypto. Another reason I'd never vote for him. It just keeps getting worse for him. I live in AZ. nt in2herbs Dec 8 #53
I'm so glad someone posted about this shit. It's worse than disgusting. Ferrets are Cool Dec 8 #54
Cringe Oneironaut Dec 8 #56
Not a good look SunImp Dec 9 #60
Meh. BannonsLiver Dec 10 #64

BeyondGeography

(40,814 posts)
5. His statements are as inane as they are ill-advised
Sun Dec 7, 2025, 06:46 PM
Dec 7

He’s better than that, but the internal wiring is obviously faulty. Instead of digging in deeper, which he does in that article, he needs to to do better or kindly fuck off from public life.

Fiendish Thingy

(22,055 posts)
6. Not to mention the millions in donations from the cryptobros for his yes vote on the GENIUS act. Nt
Sun Dec 7, 2025, 06:54 PM
Dec 7

senseandsensibility

(24,254 posts)
7. So men just need to look like men (whatever that means)
Sun Dec 7, 2025, 06:57 PM
Dec 7

but women need to be hot? Sexist BS in addition to everything else. Also, just plain stupid.

ProfessorGAC

(75,855 posts)
8. I Always Have To Question...
Sun Dec 7, 2025, 07:02 PM
Dec 7

...the judgment of people who are foolish enough to think email & texts are private.
He needs to explain his poor judgment.
The topic, while inflammatory, is less relevant to me than the stupidity. In fact, the stupidity might be the cause of the questionable opinions.

choie

(6,630 posts)
13. How do you mean?
Sun Dec 7, 2025, 07:15 PM
Dec 7

His stupidity in putting his thoughts in an email is second to the content of the email. His statement on "men being men and women being women" is almost neanderthallic. And put in the context of his horrible votes and views on transgender rights, paints a picture of intolerance and - in my opinion - a Democrat who under the guise of being a party who speaks to the needs of the working class, is actually moving us backwards.

Midwestern Democrat

(1,029 posts)
20. You're correct and someone like me that grew up without email or texts knows implicitly never to put anything in writing
Sun Dec 7, 2025, 07:56 PM
Dec 7

that I would not be comfortable having publicly exposed - but for a younger person where email and texts were always the primary form of communication instead of the telephone, it's easy to see how they could slip every so often and say things in email and texts that an older person would only say in person or on a phone call.

jaymac

(248 posts)
51. and
Mon Dec 8, 2025, 05:19 AM
Dec 8

Gillebrand..............who was the leading voice calling for Al Franken's ouster from the senate..........a low thinker

Polybius

(21,514 posts)
37. Real
Sun Dec 7, 2025, 09:07 PM
Dec 7
Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego spoke with ABC15, responding to a recent leak of his text messages in which he criticized the Democratic Party. In the exchange on Tuesday, Gallego said he was "heartbroken" that a friend of 20 years leaked private communications.


https://www.yahoo.com/news/videos/senator-ruben-gallego-addresses-recent-011447851.html

JI7

(93,223 posts)
16. It seems more like criticism of feminists or women's rights
Sun Dec 7, 2025, 07:31 PM
Dec 7

and women taking up certain roles. I could be wrong .

La Coliniere

(1,758 posts)
17. Shame on him.
Sun Dec 7, 2025, 07:37 PM
Dec 7

WTF…I hardly see him as some paragon of adult masculinity…always seems kind of a schlub. He should know better than to continue to harm the trans community, let alone the Democratic Party, of which he owes his political allegiance to, with his unfortunate words. He needs a good talking to.

Solly Mack

(96,365 posts)
22. ...
Sun Dec 7, 2025, 08:17 PM
Dec 7



In an interview with local ABC affiliate KNXV last week, Gallego confirmed the leaked texts were authentic and said he was “heartbroken” that a longtime friend shared them. But he did not retreat from their content. “I do think we have to be an open and bigger tent party,” he said, arguing Democrats “are not as inclusive as [they] should be” and must “expand the tent to allow more people in."

He added that the remarks were “a reflection of... everything I’ve said.”

What remains unanswered is how mocking Democrats’ attractiveness, or implying the party’s struggles stem from insufficient femininity or masculinity, aligns with a call for greater inclusivity.


Does he mean let more people in who think as he does?

Raven123

(7,556 posts)
27. Well said. Mocking people smells of exclusivity.
Sun Dec 7, 2025, 08:35 PM
Dec 7

Now if I were going to mock him, I might say that he should buck up. This “heartbreaking” stuff isn’t worthy of a real man.

Solly Mack

(96,365 posts)
44. I could mock him, but I won't. I mean, men do come in all shapes, sizes, and levels of hotness.
Sun Dec 7, 2025, 11:35 PM
Dec 7

LymphocyteLover

(9,371 posts)
31. When did he make these remarks? If it was a while ago then we could cut some slack though
Sun Dec 7, 2025, 08:50 PM
Dec 7

he doesn't seem to be apologizing is more disturbing

orleans

(36,673 posts)
36. "Does he mean let more people in who think as he does?" -- it sounds like it to me
Sun Dec 7, 2025, 09:07 PM
Dec 7

what a disappointment

why didn't he just come out and say: "i wish the democrat party would welcome more sexist assholes like myself"

ugh!


and if he thinks he's some hot shit stud he is horribly fucked in the head

(imo)

Solly Mack

(96,365 posts)
57. I was wondering since dem men look like women and he is a dem man, does he think he looks like a woman?
Tue Dec 9, 2025, 07:25 PM
Dec 9

Because that sounds like he is projecting his own insecurities onto the rest of us.

Response to choie (Original post)

LymphocyteLover

(9,371 posts)
32. I've heard a Dem say something similar. But there's too much shit going on for this to be a major issue
Sun Dec 7, 2025, 08:52 PM
Dec 7

for Dems to have it as a talking point

ALBliberal

(3,230 posts)
30. Hey I was previously impressed by the guy
Sun Dec 7, 2025, 08:43 PM
Dec 7

HE is So fickle and short sighted

But you my friend? I was taken in just like you.

But we? Have good hearts and we will continue to believe in goodness

Polybius

(21,514 posts)
38. I'm sorry, but how is this not all over the news?
Sun Dec 7, 2025, 09:09 PM
Dec 7

The article is days old, and this is the first time I'm hearing of it. Why was it barely covered? I would have loved to have posted this in LBN for more exposure.

lostnfound

(17,409 posts)
42. What a pitifully shallow individual.
Sun Dec 7, 2025, 09:51 PM
Dec 7

Disgusting to belittle people over their looks. Is he over the age of 15? I think he found the wrong party.

TommyT139

(2,150 posts)
46. Sexist comments -- and denying civil rights to trans folks
Mon Dec 8, 2025, 03:13 AM
Dec 8

Not consistent with Dem party values.

in2herbs

(4,239 posts)
53. He loves crypto. Another reason I'd never vote for him. It just keeps getting worse for him. I live in AZ. nt
Mon Dec 8, 2025, 08:55 AM
Dec 8

Oneironaut

(6,213 posts)
56. Cringe
Mon Dec 8, 2025, 09:31 AM
Dec 8

If these statements were written, and, you didn’t know who wrote them, who would be the more likely author: Ruben Gallego, or, a teenage boy?

This is super cringeworthy.

SunImp

(2,613 posts)
60. Not a good look
Tue Dec 9, 2025, 10:09 PM
Dec 9

I'm surprised there wasn't a lot of crying about Dem bashing or manufactured anger over purity.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Ruben Gallego's leaked te...