Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) is launching a $19 million ad campaign, while his Republican rival Kari Lake is planning a $10 million ad buy with the Senate GOP’s campaign arm, the latest signs that the Arizona Senate race is in full swing.
Gallego and Lake, who are seen as the heavy favorites in the GOP primary, are running for Sen. Kyrsten Sinema’s (I-Ariz.) seat — a critical Senate race that could determine which party wins the majority this fall.
Gallego has set aside $19 million in general election advertising, setting a record so far among Democrats for advertising bookings,according to The New York Times, who first reported the advertising campaign. Details of the Times report were confirmed to The Hill by Gallego campaign spokeswoman Hannah Goss.
At the same time, Lake is launching a $10 million advertising buy with help from the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC). On Monday, she released her first ad from that campaign, called “Big Differences,” in which the former local news anchor targets Gallego over immigration and border security issues. The ad is scheduled to run on broadcast, cable and digital media across the state, according to her campaign. Axeswas the first to reportabout your advertising campaign.
“Radical Ruben Gallego will not be able to hide from his far-left policies, voting record, and unwavering support for the Biden agenda that has caused the humanitarian, national security, and fentanyl crisis that Arizonans face every day.” , Lake’s campaign said. said in a statement when announcing the ad buy. “As Arizona’s next U.S. Senator, Kari Lake will make it her No. 1 priority to secure our border and make our neighborhoods, our streets and our state safe again.”
The competing ad campaigns come as recent polls show Gallego leading Lake in the Arizona Senate race, though sometimes within the poll’s margin of error. Lake sought to make peace with skeptical Republicans this cycle after isolating them during his gubernatorial tenure and received support from the NRSC.
However, Lake’s resistance to dropping objections over the 2022 election results, when she lost the Arizona gubernatorial race against Gov. Katie Hobbs (D), and some of her controversial rhetoric, including jokes that voters should “put on a Glock”, are complicating your race. .
Meanwhile, Gallego has sought to avoid some of his progressive bona fides, including letting his membership in the Congressional Progressive Caucus lapse.
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
