Arizona Rep. Ruben Gallego announced on Monday he will run for the U.S. Senate in 2024, setting up a high-stakes battle to win a seat held by Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ).
The field of candidates to take on Sinema, who broke ties with the Democratic Party in December to become an independent, is expected to grow, but Gallego’s entrance into the race will likely result in a three-way general election for the seat. Sinema has not yet announced her 2024 plans.
RUBEN GALLEGO TO CHALLENGE KYRSTEN SINEMA FOR SENATE SEAT: REPORT
The retired Marine’s announcement marks the first from a prominent Democratic candidate to jump into the contest.
Sinema’s defection was seen as an acknowledgment that she could not win her primary.
“As a Marine, I never back down from a fight, and in the Senate, I’ll fight to make sure every Arizonan has the same chance that I had at the American dream,” Gallego said in a Monday statement.
Arizona-based Republican strategist Chuck Coughlin told the Washington Examiner that the race between Sinema and Gallego could get really ugly, really fast.
“It will be a bitter fight to make sure she can’t get 20% to 23% of Democrats,” he said. “He is going to be very vocal about how she has failed the Democratic Party.”
“Unfortunately, Sen. Sinema is once again putting her own interests ahead of getting things done for Arizonans,” Gallego said following Sinema’s decision to leave the party.
Among the possible GOP contenders are Kari Lake, who lost her gubernatorial race against Gov. Katie Hobbs in 2022, and Blake Masters, who lost his U.S. Senate race to Sen. Mark Kelly. Other Republican hopefuls include U.S. Reps. Andy Biggs, Juan Ciscomani, Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, Karrin Taylor Robson, and Arizona GOP Chairwoman Kelli Ward.
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A Jan. 11 survey by Blueprint Polling showed Lake beating out both Sinema and Gallego, pulling in 36% of the vote, while Gallego and Sinema came in at 32% and 14%, respectively.
