Marlene Galán-Woods
Tara Kavaler
Arizona Republic
Arizona has had no shortage of famous political leaders from across the political spectrum.
But no Democratic ones came to mind for Democratic congressional candidate Marlene Galán-Woods when in a recent podcast she cited the “amazing leadership” of past Arizona Republicans such as her late husband, former Arizona Attorney General Grant Woods.
Steve Goldstein, the longtime NPR-affiliate KJZZ radio personality who now hosts a podcast titled AZ Politicast, asked Galán-Woods, a former local news anchor, for her thoughts on Arizona being simultaneously a purplish state and home to many people linked to the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot. Those included Republican Reps. Andy Biggs and Paul Gosar, who both have denied playing organizing roles in the pro-Trump mob’s breach of the Capitol.
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Galán-Woods said the extreme right can be countered by “strong leadership” that embraces “facts,” “truth” and “science.”
“You know what? Arizona has done pretty well; we’ve had some amazing leadership. You can start with Barry Goldwater and John Rhodes, and my husband and Sen. John McCain … Sandra Day O’Connor … I’m sure we don’t all agree on everything, but one thing of the people who I just listed, we agreed on democracy.”
