Gallego Defeats Lake in Arizona Senate Race

Improve the News Foundation -

Facts

  • US Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) was late Monday declared the winner of the state's US Senate election with around 50% of the vote, beating Republican Kari Lake after more than 95% of the votes had been counted.[1][2]
  • Gallego's victory means Republicans will be limited to a 53-seat majority in the 100-member chamber.[1][3]
  • Gallego, a five-term congressman and military veteran, will replace independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, a former Democrat. In a brief speech, Gallego credited his immigrant single mom, who raised him and his three siblings, while vowing to fight for a "better future" for all Arizonans.[2][4]
  • With his victory in the state — won by in the presidential election by now Pres.-elect Donald Trump — Gallego becomes the first Latino elected to the Senate from Arizona, and joins fellow Democrat, Sen. Mark Kelly, in representing that state.[2][5]
  • Lake, a former local Arizona news anchor, previously ran an unsuccessful campaign for governor in 2022. She challenged those results, claiming fraud, and has not conceded the race to Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs.[6]

Sources: [1]Associated Press, [2]The Arizona Republic, [3]Axios, [4]The New York Times, [5]BBC News and [6]FOX News.

Narratives

  • Democratic narrative, as provided by Mother Jones. Gallego won by staying loyal to Democratic values and policies while also making commitments to uphold democracy. He connected with voters from all walks of life — providing Democrats elsewhere with a lesson they can apply moving forward. In contrast, Lake promoted hateful policies and showed her disdain for democracy by never acknowledging she lost her prior election.
  • Republican narrative, as provided by Daily Caller and Breitbart. While it's unfortunate that someone with a devotion to horrific liberal policies like Gallego won this election, his victory is just a consolation prize to Democrats who have lost control of the Senate. Luckily, enough Republicans won enough Senate seats so that Gallego's Democratic promises, including expanding abortion access, won't see the light of day.