Kari Lake's rival Ruben Gallego reveals that his father is a convicted drug dealer

Democratic Senate candidate Ruben Gallego responded to rival politician Kari Lake's shocking allegations linking him to drug cartels. The failed Arizona gubernatorial candidate and MAGA ally claimed during a Sept. 30 appearance on Newsmax that Gallego was “controlled by the cartels” and that “his own father was a Colombian drug trafficker.”

Gallego, who currently represents Arizona's third congressional district, addressed Lake's claims on Thursday, revealing that his father, with whom he has no relationship, is a “convicted drug dealer” and that “this is a stain our family has had to bear.” .

“That's why my mother, my sisters and I have worked all our lives to truly live the American dream and to serve and honor this country, despite everything he's done,” he said, growing emotional as he spoke.

The congressman, who is well ahead in the polls by a margin of 4 to 14 percentage points, called Lake a “pathetic loser.”

“This is Kari Lake,” Gallego continued. “She attacks families when she loses.”

The right-wing hothead is considered a sore loser. Lake's rise in the Republican Party began with her supporting false claims that Donald Trump was robbed of Arizona's vote after widespread voter fraud in 2020. Two years later, she ran for governor of the Grand Canyon State, an election which she lost and also contested using baseless allegations of mass voter fraud led by Democrats.

Lake and Gallego first clashed in 2023 when the two were on the same flight from Washington to Phoenix. Gallego, who gave the impetus, went to X and wrote: “Hey @KariLake, we're on the same plane! Just come back to the coach from first class and we can talk. I look forward to walking you through all of my legislative work to provide critical resources to Arizona’s border communities.”

Lake responded with a link to a message about Gallego, who owns a home near Capitol Hill, and wrote: “Feel free to say hello, Ruben. I can help you with your homesickness. I know it must be difficult for you to leave your full-time residence in DC and visit the people you claim to represent.”

sources told The New York Times that Lake Gallego “ambushed” him upon landing, picked him up and peppered him with questions.