Ruben Gallego, a child of immigrants who attended Harvard, served in Iraq, and was in Congress, won the Arizona Senate race, becoming the state’s first Latino U.S. senator. He defeated Republican Kari Lake, who waged a personal campaign against him. Gallego’s victory was confirmed after a round of Democratic-heavy votes came in from Maricopa County.
Gallego, 44, expressed gratitude to Arizona for his win, and reflected on his journey and the lack of role models he had growing up. Despite personal attacks from Lake, including questioning his family background, Gallego emerged victorious based on his story of overcoming poverty and serving in the Marines.
Lake, a former Fox 10 newscaster, faced backlash for her support of Trump’s political agenda and her combative style. She struggled with discussing abortion rights and her campaign focused heavily on border security. Despite support from Trump, Lake fell behind in votes compared to the former president.
Gallego’s win represents a significant shift, as he replaces Kyrsten Sinema, who was criticized for her centrism and support for the filibuster. Democrats see Gallego’s victory as a demographic breakthrough, marking their fourth consecutive win in the U.S. Senate. Gallego’s campaign highlighted his American Dream story and his dedication to serving the country.
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