Rep. Ruben Gallego (D., Ariz.) declared himself "the happiest man in the world" in February 2020 after his then-girlfriend, real estate lobbyist Sydney Barron, accepted his marriage proposal. "She said yes!! Thank you Sydney for being my forever!" Gallego wrote on social media on Feb. 15, 2020.
Days later, Politico Playbook printed the news, announcing in its Feb. 18, 2020, edition that Gallego had popped the question in Ireland "at a small restaurant in the historic city of Limerick."
- Rep. Gallego announces his "engagement" on social media
In reality, though, records show that the two were already married. A Washington, D.C., marriage license indicates that Gallego and Barron tied the knot in December 2019 at the swanky National Gallery of Art, with a Democratic Senatorial Communications Committee official, Leigh Parker Pross, serving as the officiant.
- Rep. Gallego's marriage certificate.
It is unclear why Gallego would mislead the public about the timing of his engagement, but the congressman, now the Democratic nominee for Arizona’s open Senate seat, has not had a squeaky-clean personal life. He filed for divorce from his ex-wife, Phoenix mayor Kate Gallego (D.), weeks before she gave birth to their son. Contrary to Arizona law, Gallego filed in a county in which neither he nor Kate Gallego resided and moved to place the entire divorce proceeding, including its existence from the docket, under seal. The Washington Free Beacon is suing Gallego in a bid to challenge that seal, a move that Gallego has fought tooth and nail.
Gallego’s ruse continued beyond the announcement of his "engagement." He and Barron went on to announce their marriage to the public in June 2021, a year and a half after the pair were legally married in D.C., and photographs indicate the two held a wedding in Puerto Rico.
Politico’s Playbook was there again to make the announcement. "Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) and Sydney Barron, director of government affairs at the National Association of Realtors, got married this weekend in Puerto Rico," the June 7, 2021, newsletter read. "The ceremony was officiated by Leigh Parker Pross, who introduced the couple back in 2018, and they were joined by friends and family for a beachfront ceremony."
Parker Pross did not respond to a request for comment. Gallego did not explain why he would announce his engagement after a private marriage ceremony.
"Like many couples, Ruben and Sydney married in a private ceremony before having a larger celebration with family and friends," a spokesperson for his campaign said. "Kari Lake is a power hungry liar who will do or say anything to boost herself—even if it means desperately attacking Ruben's family."
There have been other clues that Gallego and Barron were married prior to their June 2021 ceremony. Gallego listed Barron as a "family member" on a disclosure for his all-expenses-paid junket to Qatar in April 2021.
Gallego was infamously photographed during the trip riding shirtless on a camel in the Qatari desert with his fellow House Democrat Eric Swalwell (D., Calif.).