U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego made history Friday when he was sworn in as Arizona’s first Latino senator. But it was his young son who captured the Internet’s attention.
Gallego brought his wife Sydney, son Michael, and daughter Isla to his swearing-in ceremony on Capitol Hill. As the family gathered around Vice President Kamala Harris, Michael, only seven, told Harris: “I’m sorry you didn’t win.”
A video capturing their exchange went viral on social media.
“You know what, sweetheart?” Harris responded, bending over to give the boy a hug. “Don’t you worry about it, because there’s still so much work to do.”
Michael, turning eight years old Saturday, Jan. 4, returned to his parents’ side. Harris asked if he knew what the word “defeated” meant.
“Are we defeated? Nope,” she continued. “We’re not defeated.”
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The latest election cycle handed decisive victories to the GOP up and down the ballot. Republican former President Donald Trump won the presidential election over Harris. Gallego was one of few Democrats to win contested Senate races, beating out Republican Kari Lake in November.
Ahead of his swearing-in, Gallego told The Arizona Republic that he hopes to work productively with Republicans and the incoming Trump administration on big issues such as tax policy and border security, but it will require compromise on all sides in line with voter expectations.
Specifically, Gallego wants to see legislation that would provide more officers at the U.S.-Mexico border, change laws surrounding asylum seekers, and see tribal water agreements finalized to ensure better economic planning for Native Americans.
He will serve on the Senate’s Homeland Security Committee, Banking, Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and Veterans Affairs Committee.
As Harris read Gallego his oath of office, Isla began to murmur and reached for Harris’ cue card. The vice president patted her on the back.
Harris gave Michael a high-five as they posed for a photo. His father encouraged them, laughing.
“High-five the vice president,” Gallego said.
The Arizona Republic’s Ronald Hansen contributed reporting.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Ruben Gallego’s son to Kamala Harris: ‘I’m sorry you didn’t win’