CHC BOLD PAC and Elect Democratic Women: Marlene Galán-Woods Poised to Flip AZ-01 Against Trump-Backed GOP Opponent

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 11, 2025
Contact: valeria@chcboldpac.com, liz@electdemocraticwomen.org
CHC BOLD PAC and Elect Democratic Women: Marlene Galán-Woods Poised to Flip AZ-01 Against Trump-Backed GOP Opponent
New Poll Shows Galán-Woods Leading Republican Opponent Gina Swoboda by 8 Points, Dominating Among Independents
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, CHC BOLD PAC and Elect Democratic Women (EDW) released new polling showing Marlene Galán-Woods leading Trump-endorsed Republican Gina Swoboda in Arizona’s 1st Congressional District, a critical battleground seat that will help decide control of the House in 2026. The latest data from Clarity Campaign Labs confirms what supporters across Arizona already know: Marlene has what it takes to defeat MAGA Republican Gina Swoboda and flip this seat blue.
Despite Donald Trump carrying AZ-01 by 3 points in 2024, the new poll shows that Trump’s brand is now underwater in the district—and so is Swoboda’s. Meanwhile, Galán-Woods enters the race with stronger name recognition, higher favorables, and a decisive lead among independents.
The full polling memo is available here.
Key Highlights:
- Marlene begins with a stronger foundation than Swoboda. Galán-Woods’ favorability is net positive (+1%), while Swoboda is already underwater at net -5%.
- Marlene’s profile resonates strongly with a general electorate. Galán-Woods leads Swoboda 48% to 40% after voters learn about both candidates.
- Marlene’s profile is especially powerful among independent voters. Galán-Woods’ support with independents is more than double that of Swoboda and she leads 54% to 25%.
- Marlene also picks up substantial crossover support from Republicans, which will be critical to flipping this seat, winning 10% of Republicans against Swoboda.
“Arizona’s first district will be key for flipping the House in 2026, and Marlene is not just competitive, she’s ahead,” said CHC BOLD PAC Chairwoman Linda Sánchez. “Voters are rejecting Trump’s extremism and rallying behind a Latina leader who understands their everyday struggles. Democrats lost this seat by just 3.8% in 2024, and Latinos make up 16.4% of this district. It’s clear that we can flip this seat with a leader that Latino voters can believe in.”
AZ-01 is a top-tier pickup opportunity for Democrats, and this poll shows that margin is within reach. Galán-Woods’ momentum reflects broader shifts across Latino and swing voters in Arizona. It’s clear that Trump’s extreme tactics have gone too far, and Latino voters are the key to flipping AZ-01.
“The path to taking back the House runs through women like Marlene Galán-Woods,” said Rep. Lois Frankel, Chair of Elect Democratic Women. “Marlene has built a strong coalition of supporters who know she’ll always stand up to extremists, work to lower costs, and fight for Arizonans. Voters are ready to send a mom, journalist, and fighter to Congress.”
BOLD PAC and EDW are fully committed to flipping AZ-01 and elevating Marlene’s campaign as the national model for how Democrats can win in tough districts—by building broad, multiracial, multigenerational coalitions rooted in shared values and economic fairness.
About Marlene Galán-Woods
Marlene Galán-Woods is a former broadcast journalist and mother of five who has lived in Arizona for the past 36 years. Her parents fled communist Cuba looking for a better life. Their risk paid off and allowed Marlene to pursue her career as an investigative journalist, which brought her to Arizona. She met the love of her life, Grant Woods, and they raised a family together before he passed away in 2021. Marlene is running for Congress to stand up to extremists and be a voice for all Arizonans.
Marlene is the only woman and Latina in the race. Last cycle, when Marlene ran for Congress, Republicans spent thousands of dollars against her in the Democratic primary because they knew she was the Democrat who could win and flip this seat in the general election. Marlene’s growing coalition includes endorsements from EMILYs List, AZ Attorney General Kris Mayes, former AZ Governor Janet Napolitano, and multiple labor unions.
About CHC BOLD PAC
CHC BOLD PAC is the campaign arm of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) and is dedicated to increasing diversity in the House and Senate by helping more Latinos get elected. CHC BOLD PAC led an unprecedented effort in the 2024 cycle, investing $6.15 million in independent expenditures – the largest in BOLD’s history. Thanks to these efforts, BOLD PAC helped secure seven new Democratic Latino members of Congress, including electing the first Latino Senator in Arizona.
About Elect Democratic Women
Elect Democratic Women is a political organization led by current members of Congress, focused on electing more Democratic women to Congress. Since its inception in 2018, EDW has raised over $38 million and supported more than 200 women candidates.
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