FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Aditi Katti, 734-272-5893
August 3, 2023
Phoenix, AZ — Today former Congressman Ron Barber endorsed Marlene Galán-Woods for Congress and released the following statement:
“I’m so proud to endorse Marlene Galan-Woods to be the next Congresswoman from Arizona’s First District. Marlene has a history of working for Arizonans, from her time as a journalist to her work as a community leader. As a former Congressman, I know Marlene has the integrity, grit, and work ethic to flip this seat and be a champion for Arizona families in the Capitol,” Barber said. “In Congress, Marlene will be a leader on policy issues important to Arizonans. She will protect women’s reproductive health care, stand up for the right of every citizen to vote without unnecessary restrictions and will work hard to bring economic development to our state.”
“I am so grateful for Congressman Barber’s support. Throughout his decades of service, he has been a champion for Arizonans, helping lead the way on gun reform, voting rights, and economic security,” Galán-Woods said.“We both know we can’t take our rights or our freedoms for granted, and I hope to build upon Congressman Barber’s important work preserving our democracy in Congress. I’m honored to have the support of another strong leader in Arizona.”
Barber joins Galán-Woods’s impressive coalition of support, including Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes and former Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick’s Moms Fed Up PAC.
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.
