In a surprising turn of events, Democrat Ruben Gallego has been projected to win the Arizona Senate seat, beating out Republican Kari Lake. This makes him the first Latino senator from Arizona. Gallego, a fifth-term congressman, will take over from retiring independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, joining a Senate that will be controlled by the GOP starting in January. Despite Donald Trump winning Arizona, Gallego managed to secure his seat, showing that Democrats can still win even when the president-elect is from the opposing party.

Gallego's victory is significant because it comes after a tough campaign where he rebranded himself as a moderate. His opponent, Kari Lake, was a close ally of Trump and known for spreading false claims about the 2020 election. Gallego thanked Republicans who supported him, promising to find common ground while defending the Constitution and the interests of everyday Arizonans.

The race was focused on key issues like the economy, housing costs, immigration, and abortion rights. Gallego pledged to work on fixing the immigration system and lowering costs for everyday items. Lake, however, struggled to match Trump's numbers, especially among independents. Gallego outraised and outspent Lake, who didn't receive help from the main Senate GOP super PAC.

Born in Chicago and of Colombian and Mexican heritage, Gallego served in the Marines and was deployed to Iraq. He has been open about his struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder. First elected to Congress in 2014, he represented a deep-blue district in Phoenix and previously served two terms in the Arizona House.

Arizona's Senate Race: Ruben Gallego Wins Big

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