Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) won the Democratic primary in the Arizona Senate race, according to a projection from Decision Desk headquarters.
Gallego ran uncontested in the Democratic race to replace retiring Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) and has largely been in general election mode, focusing on Republican Kari Lake.
Lake was widely seen as the Republican Party’s presumptive nominee, although she technically faced a primary against Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb. Lake ran for Governor of Arizona in 2022 and narrowly lost to Governor Katie Hobbs (D).
Lake, a former local news anchor, has repeatedly refuted the election defeat, despite several legal challenges being launched. The conservative firebrand has sought to woo the skeptics and moderate Republicans she isolated last cycle, with limited success.
Gallego, meanwhile, sought to avoid his progressive bona fides, including expiring his membership in the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
A set of Arizona Senate polls compiled by Decision Desk headquarters shows Gallego leading Lake 47% to 43%.
The nonpartisan election pollster Cook Political Report classifies Sinema’s seat as “lean Arizona.”
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
