Arizonans had their eyes on the debate stage earlier this month when former Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego squared off against Republican Kari Lake over who voters should pick as their next senator.

However, Gallego recently got some unwanted attention when the candidate's divorce records were unsealed. 

Gallego cited son's welfare in seeking to keep records secret

According to the Washington Examiner, Gallego's divorce records had been sought by the Washington Free Beacon, which filed a lawsuit in order to gain access to them.

The Examiner noted that Gallego and his ex-wife, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, both opposed the move on the grounds that it would be harmful to their son.

I asked Rep. Gallego why he & his ex-wife, Mayor Kate Gallego, are fighting to keep their divorce records sealed (Oct 6):

“We are doing this because we are trying to protect our son.. We know that if she [Lake] gets any information about our son, she will release it.” @NBCNews https://t.co/9a4vgtXKQ5 pic.twitter.com/5OnMkgGybe

— Julie Tsirkin (@JulieNBCNews) October 17, 2024

"We have a son who did not choose to run for office, but we need to protect him and his privacy, and that’s all we’ve been asking this whole time," Gallego was quoted as telling NBC News.

"Kari Lake and her allies know that because the judge told them there’s nothing there, and yet they continue to attack, and of course we’re worried," the Democratic Senate hopeful added.

Lake suggested records could contain "something really, really bad"

The Arizona Supreme Court refused Gallego request for a stay on the release of his divorce records, which resulted in them being released on Thursday.

That development was welcomed by Free Beacon editor-in-chief Eliana Johnson, who celebrated it in a post on social media, stating, "The Free Beacon has prevailed in its lawsuit against Ruben Gallego in which we’ve sought to unseal his divorce records."

"The Arizona Supreme Court had the final word tonight and denied Gallego's motion for a stay," she continued before adding, "Thank you to our lawyers Michael Edney and Cory Stuart for their tireless work on this."

The Examiner recalled how while Lake was not involved in the fight to make her divorce records public, she previously suggested that there could be "something really, really bad in those records that we think should be revealed."

Gallego and ex-wife demand an apology from Lake

Meanwhile, AZ Central reported that Gallego and his ex-wife issued a joint statement on Thursday in which they demanded an apology from Lake.

"She will stop at nothing to score a cheap political point — even if it means endangering the privacy and well-being of our young son. We have long put our child before all else and will continue to do so," they declared.

"The judge in this case has recognized how standard the records are, and it is shameful that Lake, her allies, and those who amplify her cruelty refused to respect two people who are just trying to raise a beautiful boy together," the former couple went on to add.