By Kellen Browning
Democrat Rep. Ruben Gallego from the Phoenix area and a military veteran has triumphed in Arizona’s Senate election, as announced by The Associated Press on Monday night — a positive development for Democrats following Republican gains in the chamber.
Gallego emerged victorious against his Republican competitor, Kari Lake, a fervent supporter of President-elect Donald Trump, after maintaining a significant lead over her during both summer and fall. The outcome ended up being much tighter than many had anticipated, indicating ongoing Republican influence across the nation.
A congressman for five terms, Gallego hails from a working-class family in Chicago, taking on jobs as a teenager to help support his family and sometimes sleeping on the apartment floor. He is an alumnus of Harvard University and served as a Marine in the Iraq War. He will be Arizona’s first Latino senator, succeeding Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, who used to be a Democrat and is now independent.
In a heartfelt news conference in Phoenix late Monday night, Gallego, emotionally reflecting on his roots, spoke of his journey.
“This victory is dedicated to the children sleeping on the floor, envisioning a brighter America and a promising future,” he stated.
After years without electing a Democrat to the Senate, Arizona voters have now made their choice in four consecutive elections, highlighting the state’s transition from a conservative bastion to a competitive battleground. Voters previously supported Sinema in 2018, elected Sen. Mark Kelly in a special election in 2020, and then re-elected him in 2022.
Gallego’s win stands out from an ideological perspective. Known for his progressive stance, there were earlier concerns regarding whether he might be perceived as too liberal for a statewide candidacy.
In January 2023, Gallego declared his intention to challenge Sinema for her position after she upset Democrats by aligning with Republicans on significant aspects of President Joe Biden’s agenda.
Throughout his campaign, he experienced two crucial advantages. The first was Sinema’s announcement this year that she wouldn’t seek reelection, which allowed him to consolidate the Democratic base.
The second advantage came with Lake entering the race, a former TV anchor and outspoken Trump supporter who gained notoriety through a controversial gubernatorial campaign in 2022, marked by her attacks on fellow Republicans and promotion of Trump’s unfounded election claims.
Lake’s confrontational approach alienated many right-leaning individuals, particularly after she initiated a series of unsuccessful lawsuits contesting her loss in 2022. Nevertheless, she rallied the Republican base around her in this year’s Senate primary, presenting Gallego with a relatively weak opponent.
Lake’s campaign has not yet commented in response to inquiries. On Election Day, she told reporters that she would “accept the results of the election.”
Once recognized for his fiery remarks directed at Republicans on social media, Gallego managed a rigorously disciplined campaign. He successfully redefined his image as a calm moderate, emphasizing his military background and positioning himself as a pragmatic legislator focused on family costs and advocating for tribal water rights. Analysts believed that due to his history and service, he would resonate more with Latino males — a demographic where Vice President Kamala Harris appeared to struggle.
He held a significant financial edge over Lake, allowing him to connect with voters on his own terms. Additionally, he traveled extensively across the state, engaging with all 22 of Arizona’s federally recognized Native American tribes.
Throughout the fall, Lake remained the underdog, with surveys consistently showing her lagging behind Gallego, even as Trump outperformed Harris in Arizona.
She was unable to deliver a decisive challenge during their only televised debate in early October. Moreover, in the final days of her campaign, she couldn’t create a significant moment that would shift the dynamics of the race.
