U.S. Congressman Ruben Gallego has emerged victorious in Arizona’s 2024 U.S. Senate race, securing a win over Republican Kari Lake. The race was called for Gallego Monday night after an intense vote count.
Gallego’s win marks a significant victory for Arizona’s Democratic Party, as he becomes the first Latino senator from the state. The victory was declared almost a week after Election Day, with over 93% of the ballots counted. Gallego led by 2.2 percentage points, which translated to 72,626 votes ahead of Lake, a former Phoenix news anchor and Trump-endorsed candidate.
Gallego’s Triumph: A Dream Realized
The newly elected senator was emotional as he addressed his supporters, reflecting on the struggles of his upbringing. “Growing up the way I did in the environment I did, growing up poor, being here is something that was literally a dream,” Gallego said at a celebratory press conference.
His victory marks a personal milestone, as he becomes the first Latino senator to represent Arizona. Gallego promised his supporters that he would bring the same determination to Washington D.C. that he exhibited during his service in the U.S. Marines. “As hard as I fought in the Marines, I will fight as hard for Arizona in Washington,” he declared.
Gallego’s campaign focused on the affordability of living, including tackling rising housing costs, gas prices, and grocery expenses. He also expressed his commitment to fixing the nation’s broken immigration system—a hot-button issue in Arizona, where the debate over border security remains front and center.
The Slow Countdown: Maricopa County’s Key Role
As Arizona’s vote counts trickled in over several days, it became clear that Maricopa County, which is home to 60% of the state’s voters, would play a crucial role in determining the winner. Gallego maintained a fluctuating lead, which gradually grew as more votes from the county were tallied. On Monday, his margin of victory over Lake grew significantly, outpacing his earlier, narrower advantage.
Gallego clinched a decisive win in Maricopa County by about 5 percentage points—a critical shift that helped secure his overall lead. The county’s larger population and more liberal voting tendencies have been key to Democratic success in Arizona in recent years, particularly in major elections like this one.
At the time of the Associated Press declaring Gallego’s victory, Arizona had processed over 3.2 million ballots, with roughly 179,000 remaining. Gallego’s steady lead helped keep the outcome in his favor, even as Lake’s camp worked tirelessly to address concerns over ballots and signatures.
Kari Lake’s Response: No Concession Yet
Despite the call for Gallego’s victory, Kari Lake has refused to concede the race. The former television anchor, known for her outspoken alignment with former President Donald Trump, did not offer a public statement on Monday night.
Lake has been vocal about her 2022 gubernatorial loss to Democrat Katie Hobbs, which she continues to dispute. Her refusal to concede the 2022 race, as well as her persistent claims of election fraud, colored her Senate bid. In the days following the 2024 election, some of Lake’s supporters fueled rumors of a “stolen” election, a claim that mirrors her accusations from the previous race.
Though Lake’s camp has been focused on rallying volunteers to “cure” ballots, ensuring that any discrepancies in signatures were addressed before the deadline, the final ruling from the Arizona Supreme Court earlier this month rejected a request to extend the curing process. The ACLU had argued that more than 60,000 ballots had not been processed in time. However, election officials maintained that they had made every effort to contact voters who faced signature challenges.
Campaigns and Platforms: Contrasting Visions
Gallego and Lake’s campaigns highlighted stark contrasts in political ideology and approach. Gallego campaigned on the need for affordable living and healthcare, particularly advocating for abortion rights. His stance on immigration focused on securing the border with a more balanced approach—emphasizing technology and personnel rather than a solely wall-centric policy.
Lake, on the other hand, aligned herself with the MAGA movement. She called for the completion of the border wall, mass deportations of undocumented immigrants, and the continuation of Trump-era tax cuts. Lake frequently sought to connect Gallego with President Joe Biden, framing him as a supporter of what she referred to as “open borders.”
One of the most contentious issues during the campaign was abortion. Lake’s changing stance on the matter, from more extreme positions to a more moderated one, became a talking point for Gallego, who used it to highlight her inconsistencies.
Legal Battles Looming for Lake
Lake’s political future may also be shaped by ongoing legal challenges. In the coming months, she faces the possibility of paying damages in a defamation case brought by Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer. Lake had falsely accused Richer of rigging the 2022 election against her, a claim that she eventually conceded was without merit.
Despite her Senate loss, these legal issues could keep Lake in the headlines as she continues to contest the results of the 2022 gubernatorial race and face scrutiny for her baseless claims of election fraud.
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