Dem Rep Ruben Gallego beats Kari Lake in battle for Arizona Senate seat

Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., has emerged victorious in the race for Arizona’s open Senate seat, defeating Republican Kari Lake, a staunch ally of President-elect Donald Trump, as reported by The Associated Press on Monday night.

Gallego, who has been serving in the House of Representatives since 2015, represented the 7th and 3rd congressional districts in Arizona. His win in the Senate race marks a significant milestone in his political career.

Lake, on the other hand, previously ran unsuccessfully for Arizona governor in 2022, losing to Gov. Katie Hobbs, D-Ariz. With a background as a news anchor for a local Arizona television station, Lake had a 27-year career in the media industry before transitioning into politics.

Following her defeat in the gubernatorial race, Lake raised concerns about fraud in the state’s elections, mirroring claims made by Trump and his supporters. These allegations have led the Republican National Committee to focus on election integrity efforts in Arizona.

In the Republican Senate primary, Lake faced off against Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, while Gallego had a clear path in the Democratic primary, running unopposed. The Fox News Power Rankings and the Cook Political Report both classified the Arizona Senate race as leaning towards the Democratic Party.

The Senate seat Gallego will now occupy was previously held by Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., who announced she would not seek re-election. Sinema, who caucuses with Democrats but officially registered as an independent, disagreed with her party on the legislative filibuster, along with Sen. Joe Manchin, I-W.Va.

Leading up to the Senate election, Gallego consistently polled ahead of Lake by single digits, even in surveys where Trump outperformed Vice President Kamala Harris. His strong connection with Latino voters may have influenced split-ticket voting in the state, a practice that has become less common.

While Lake emphasized her ties to Trump during the campaign, Gallego did not heavily promote his relationship with Harris. This strategic difference may have played a role in Gallego’s success in the Senate race.

As Gallego prepares to transition to the Senate, he will bring his experience and leadership to Arizona, representing the interests of his constituents and working towards a brighter future for the state.