PHOENIX — Democratic lawmaker Ruben Gallego has won the race for Senate against the Republican candidate and former Phoenix TV anchor Kari Lake, according to Decision Desk.
On Veteran's Day, the Associated Press announced Gallego as the Senate race projected winner.
Gallego’s victory continues a string of Democratic successes in a state that was reliably Republican until Donald Trump was elected president in 2016. Arizona voters had rejected Trump-endorsed candidates in every election since, but the president-elect won Arizona this year over Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris
“Gracias, Arizona!” Gallego wrote on the social platform X. He planned to speak to his supporters during a news conference Monday night.
With Gallego’s win, the GOP will have 53 seats in the 100-member Senate.
Ruben Gallego’s top priorities include reproductive rights and providing access to abortion procedures. He supports ending the filibuster, in part to codify Roe v. Wade.
See ABC15's previous coverage of Gallego before the election in the video player below.
He supports raising the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour, and increasing taxes on billionaires and corporations to “pay their fair share.”
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On immigration, Gallego said he supports a secure border, and according to his campaign website, “consistently” voted for funding to increase the number of border patrol agents. Gallego also supported the Bipartisan Border Bill that failed in Congress in early 2024.
Gallego first announced he would be jumping into the Senate race in January 2023, saying he would challenge Independent Kyrsten Sinema. Sinema later announced her retirement, leading to the race between Gallego and Lake.
Gallego, a military veteran, was elected in 2010 to the state Legislature before being elected to Congress in 2014, where he focused on veterans and military issues.
We sat down one-on-one with Gallego ahead of the 2024 primary election. Watch that interview in the player below:
