Sen. Ruben Gallego says ASU should have fired hockey coach after workout injured player

U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego says Arizona State University should have fired its hockey coach as soon as it learned what happened at a grueling, military-style workout that left a player on life support.

“I would have fired him in a second,” Gallego said Thursday on KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Outspoken with Bruce & Gaydos.

In the wide-ranging interview, Gallego also warned that President Donald Trump may try to interfere with next month’s election and predicted big Democratic wins in November. Questions about Mayich came first.

ASU hockey player Matthew Mayich remains hospitalized after players were reportedly put through Navy SEAL-style training and denied water.

Gallego, a Democrat and Marine Corps combat veteran, blamed coach Greg Powers.

“Even in some of my hardest Marine Corps training, we’re always hydrating,” he said. “You are the head of the team. You need to be looking out for the health and wellness of these men.”

He questioned why the coach still has a job.

“You hire the person, that person shows up, and you are okay with not allowing anybody water, and you watch him with your staff, you don’t do anything, and you still have a job. That’s crazy,” Gallego said.

Gallego warned the case could hurt ASU’s recruiting.

“If you’re a parent, would you send your kid to that program? I would question that,” he said.

“He will take any opportunity”

With early ballots already landing in Arizona mailboxes, Gallego also warned that President Donald Trump may try to interfere with the November election.

He pointed to Trump’s efforts to end mail-in voting and to give the Postal Service a say in who gets a ballot.

“Listen, I always say, if he says he’s going to do something, we should at least listen,” Gallego said. “So I think if he’s given an opportunity, he will take any opportunity to actually mess with the vote.”

Closer to home, Gallego criticized Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap after a vendor mailed about 3,000 ballots early. Gallego said the ballots went to voters who were supposed to get them anyway.

He accused Heap of laying groundwork to dispute the results later.

“Either replace the ballots right away or stop trying to basically create a basis for an excuse of what’s going to happen later,” Gallego said.

Sen. Ruben Gallego makes midterm predictions

Gallego predicted Democrats will win control of both chambers of Congress.

“I think Senate goes Democrat,” he said.

He named Texas as the key Senate race and predicted Democrat James Talarico will win there. He also said Democrat Bobby Pulido, a Tejano music star, will win a South Texas House district that Trump carried by 17 points.

“He’s going to probably win it by like seven, eight points,” Gallego said.

In the Arizona governor’s race, Gallego wouldn’t give a margin. He said he didn’t want to discourage anyone from voting. But he said Gov. Katie Hobbs has the edge over Republican Rep. Andy Biggs.

“But she’s doing everything right to win. And he’s doing nothing right to win,” he said.

He dismissed Biggs’ ads blaming Hobbs for high gas and grocery prices. He said voters know where the costs come from.

“They understand that food prices are high because of tariffs, a stupid war, and a lot of hangover from the last four years,” Gallego said.

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