Rep. Ruben Gallego, a Democrat from Arizona, has emerged victorious in the race for Arizona’s open Senate seat, defeating Republican candidate Kari Lake, a close ally of President-elect Donald Trump. Gallego has been serving in the House of Representatives since 2015, representing the 7th and 3rd congressional districts in Arizona. Lake, a former news anchor who ran unsuccessfully for Arizona governor in 2022, contested the results of the election citing fraud concerns in the state, echoing claims made by Trump and his supporters. The concerns about election irregularities have led to the Republican National Committee investing significant resources in election integrity efforts.
During the race, Lake faced off against Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb in the Republican Senate primary, while Gallego ran unopposed in the Democratic primary. The Arizona Senate race was considered to lean towards the Democrats according to the Fox News Power Rankings and the Cook Political Report. The current Senate seat is held by Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, who caucuses with Democrats but officially registered as an independent after opposing fellow Senate Democrats on the legislative filibuster. Sinema and Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia have been credited with upholding the filibuster’s 60-vote threshold by going against their party’s wishes.
Despite leading in polls leading up to the Senate election, Gallego often led Lake by single digits. Experts believed that his connection with Latino voters may have fueled split-ticket voting in the state, even though this practice has become less common. Trump’s popularity in the state was higher than Lake’s, who frequently highlighted her relationship with the former President during her campaign. Gallego, on the other hand, did not often emphasize his connection with Vice President Kamala Harris during the campaign. Sinema’s decision not to seek reelection and possibly run as a third-party candidate threatened to complicate the Senate race, as strategists were unsure how her supporters would vote.
The concerns about election irregularities and fraud raised by Lake and Trump have led to a focus on election integrity efforts by the Republican National Committee. The Senate race in Arizona was viewed as favoring Democrats, with Gallego ultimately emerging victorious over Lake. Gallego’s ability to connect with Latino voters and his consistently leading in polls, even in scenarios where Trump was favored over Harris, may have contributed to his success in the race. Sinema and Manchin’s decisions to oppose their fellow Senate Democrats on the legislative filibuster have earned them credit for upholding the 60-vote threshold.
Overall, Rep. Ruben Gallego’s victory in the Arizona Senate race is seen as a significant win for Democrats in the state, solidifying their hold on the Senate seat previously held by Sen. Kyrsten Sinema. The race was closely watched due to the presence of a high-profile Republican candidate and the focus on election integrity issues raised by Lake and Trump. Gallego’s ability to connect with Latino voters and his consistent lead in polls were key factors in his success, despite the state’s leaning towards supporting Trump. The focus now shifts to Gallego’s upcoming role in the Senate and his impact on national politics.
