Rep. Ruben Gallego, a Democrat from Arizona, emerged victorious in the race for Arizona’s open Senate seat, defeating Republican Kari Lake, who is 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, who previously ran for Arizona governor in 2022 but was defeated by Gov. Katie Hobbs, has a background in media, having worked as a news anchor for a local Arizona television station for 27 years. Following her loss in the gubernatorial race, Lake raised concerns about fraud in the election results, echoing claims made by Trump and his supporters.
The primaries held on Tuesday night were to fill the seat that will be vacated by Rep. Ruben Gallego at the end of the year. Gallego ran unopposed in the Democratic primary, giving him an advantage in the Senate race. The race was rated as “Leans Democrat” by both Fox News Power Rankings and the Cook Political Report.
The current Senate seat is held by Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, who was elected as a Democrat but later registered as an independent. Sinema, along with Sen. Joe Manchin, has opposed her fellow Senate Democrats on the legislative filibuster, which requires a 60-vote threshold. Both Sinema and Manchin decided not to seek re-election.
Leading up to the Senate election, Gallego consistently held a single-digit lead over Lake in polls. Despite Lake’s emphasis on her connection to Trump, experts believe that Gallego’s appeal to Latino voters may have contributed to split-ticket voting in the state.
Overall, Gallego’s victory in the Senate race marks a significant political development in Arizona’s political landscape. As he prepares to transition to the Senate, many will be watching to see how he continues to represent the interests of the people of Arizona.