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Ruben Gallego Secures Arizona Senate Seat in Competitive Race
Representative Ruben Gallego, a Democrat from Arizona, has emerged victorious in the contest for the state’s vacant Senate seat, defeating Republican Kari Lake, a prominent supporter of President-elect Donald Trump, as reported by The Associated Press on Monday evening.
Gallego has been serving in the House of Representatives since 2015 and has represented both the 7th and 3rd congressional districts within Arizona.
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Kari Lake previously ran for governor of Arizona in 2022 but was defeated by Governor Katie Hobbs. Before her political career, she spent nearly three decades as a news anchor at a local television station.
Following her gubernatorial defeat, Lake raised allegations of election fraud regarding both the 2020 and 2022 elections. She continues to assert that there were notable irregularities during these elections—a narrative echoed by Trump and many of his supporters. This situation prompted significant investment from the Republican National Committee into efforts aimed at ensuring election integrity.
The Primary Landscape
Kari Lake competed against Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb in the Republican primary for Senate while Gallego enjoyed an unchallenged run within his party’s primary.
Political Forecasts Favor Democrats
The Fox News Power Rankings, published in September, categorized this Senate race as “Leans Democrat.” Similarly, insights from the Cook Political Report, known for its political analysis expertise, also indicated a ”Lean Democrat” stance on this race.
The Current Senate Landscape
This Senate seat is presently occupied by Senator Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), who initially won her election as a Democrat but later registered as an independent after diverging from her party on issues like legislative filibuster rules. Sinema continues to caucus with Democrats despite this shift alongside Senator Joe Manchin (I-W.V.)—both are recognized for their roles in maintaining the filibuster’s requirement for sixty votes.
A Shift Away From Re-election Attempts
Both senators have opted not to pursue re-election campaigns this cycle.
The Impact of Sinema’s Decision on Voter Dynamics
Prior to announcing her decision not to seek another term, speculation surrounded Sinema potentially running as a third-party candidate—an outcome that could have significantly influenced voter behavior among her supporters during this competitive race.
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A Close Contest Ahead of Election Day
Preelection polling indicated that Gallego often led Lake by narrow margins—even managing to outperform his opponent when surveys included hypothetical matchups against Trump versus Vice President Kamala Harris. Analysts suggested that Gallego’s appeal among Latino voters might contribute to potential split-ticket voting patterns within Arizona—a trend that is becoming increasingly uncommon across U.S elections today.
Stay informed with real-time updates from Fox News Digital regarding campaign developments and exclusive interviews leading up to November’s elections!
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