Rep. Ruben Gallego's moderate makeover continues, and really, is that so bad?

Ruben Gallego’s Moderate Makeover continued on Thursday, as he voted to block non-U.S. citizens from voting in local Washington, D.C., elections.

Gallego was among 52 Democrats who joined with Republicans to strike down the ordinance that allows anyone living in D.C. to vote in local elections starting next month.

Yet just 15 months ago, Gallego voted no on virtually the same bill.

“I believe voting is a fundamental right reserved for the citizens of the United States, and I will oppose any effort to erode that right in Arizona and on the federal level,” he said at the time. “But Washington, D.C. is not Arizona, and I do not believe Congress should be in the business of telling the residents of Washington, D.C. how to hold their democratic elections.

“Today’s vote, if anything, is yet another example of why we need D.C. statehood, so those living in Washington no longer find themselves at the mercy of a vindictive Republican House majority.”

Ruben Gallego joins 'vindictive' majority on D.C.

On Thursday, Gallego joined that “vindictive Republican House majority” and voted yes.

“I believe that only citizens have the Constitutional right to vote, which is why I voted for this legislation,” Gallego said. “This bill made important improvements on the previous attempt, which was a half-baked proposal with dangerous implications, including the inability for American citizens living in DC to access our judicial system.”

Gallego’s race to the center comes right out of the playbook that Kyrsten Sinema wrote and Mark Kelly memorized. Only this time, there’s a plot twist.  Gallego is a liberal with the voting record to prove it.

He’s also a smart guy, one who knew he’d be pounded by Kari Lake if he supported a law that allows immigrants who came here illegally to vote, even if it is in local elections 2,300 miles from Phoenix.

Never mind her own flipping and flopping and flapping on a core-value issue far more relevant to Arizonans — abortion.

Of course, Kari Lake pounds him for flipping

Of course, Gallego got a pounding for changing his vote.

“@RubenGallego voted to protect an identical law that allowed 50,000 illegal immigrants to vote in DC elections,” Lake wrote. “Today, he flip-flopped. Ruben thinks a few ‘moderate’ votes will sweep a decade of radicalism under the rug. I find this kind of craven behavior from a career politician insulting. I bet most Arizonans do too.”

Actually, the law allowing noncitizens to vote didn’t even take effect until this year.

According to the Washington Post, 513 noncitizens have registered to vote in the city’s June 4 primary. That’s out of roughly 530,000 registered voters citywide.

Gallego wants Sinema's endorsement? As if he'd get it

Still, the National Republican Senatorial Committee was no less scandalized than Lake by Gallego’s vote.

“He’s looking for political cover to try and fool Arizonans into thinking he’s tough on the border,” NRSC spokesman Tate Mitchell said. “It’s hard to imagine a more shameless politician than Ruben Gallego.”

Actually, it’s not so hard to imagine.

Thursday was also the day Senate Republicans again killed a border fix that included reforms they’ve been demanding for years. This, out of fear it could boost President Joe Biden’s reelection prospects.

Which Gallego will we see if he's elected?

Here’s the real question that voters need to answer about Rep. Ruben Gallego:

If elected, which Ruben will we see? The leftie who represented an immigrant-friendly district, or the savvy statewide politician who would like to stay awhile?

I tend to think he’d like to stay awhile and so he’ll dance with the ones that brung him — the moderates who will decide who represents Arizona in the U.S. Senate.

Lake already told them to “get the hell out” in 2022, and recent polling suggests they’ve obliged her.

Now Ruben Gallego is inviting them in.

Really, is that such a bad thing?

Reach Roberts at laurie.roberts@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at @LaurieRoberts.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Ruben Gallego flips on DC voting, and Republicans flip out