Gallego wins Democratic Senate primary in Arizona

Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) has won the Democratic primary in the Arizona Senate race, according to a projection from Decision Desk HQ.

Gallego ran uncontested in the Democratic contest to replace retiring Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I), and he has largely been in general election mode, setting his sights on Republican Kari Lake, who also won her primary Tuesday.

Lake, like Gallego, was widely seen as the favorite to win the primary, though she technically faced a challenger in Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb. Lake ran for Arizona governor in 2022 and narrowly lost to Gov. Katie Hobbs (D). 

Lake, a former local news anchor, has repeatedly refuted the election loss, despite multiple court challenges getting tossed. The firebrand conservative has sought to court skeptics and moderate Republicans she isolated last cycle, with limited success.

Gallego, meanwhile, has sought to eschew his progressive bona fides, including having his membership expire with the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

An aggregate of Arizona Senate polls compiled by Decision Desk HQ shows Gallego leading Lake 47 percent to 43 percent. 

The nonpartisan election handicapper Cook Political Report rates Sinema’s seat as “lean Democrat.”