PHOENIX — Kari Lake has won the Republican Senate primary in Arizona, NBC News projects, officially setting up a critical matchup against Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego.
Lake, a strong ally of former President Donald Trump, was ahead of Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb 53% to 41%, with about 77% of the vote expected. Former news anchor Elizabeth Reye was running a distant third.
Lake advances to the general election for the seat vacated by independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema against Gallego, a Phoenix-area House member and Navy veteran who ran unopposed in the Democratic primary. The race in battleground Arizona will be among the few that determine party control of the Senate this fall.
Lake, 54, a former broadcaster, first emerged on the political scene during her unsuccessful 2022 gubernatorial bid as a prominent promoter of Trump’s false claims that the 2020 election was stolen. She later refused to accept her own defeat to Democrat Katie Hobbs, who is now governor of Arizona.
Lake heavily praised Trump’s endorsement again during his Senate campaign. She arrived at her polling place in Paradise Valley on Tuesday in a new tour bus that featured a giant decal of her and Trump and the words “Endorsed by President Trump.”
“Knowing that I am endorsed by Trump is important to a lot of people here in Arizona,” Lake said.
Lake’s challenge will now take his MAGA-themed message to a broader electorate in a swing state critical to both the White House race and control of the Senate. Democrats hold a 51-49 majority in the Senate.
Gallego, 44, a former member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, has demonstrated his willingness to work across the aisle as he seeks statewide office.
“In the 554 days since we launched this campaign, Arizonans in every corner of the state have made it clear they want a U.S. Senator who can unite people to defend abortion rights, cut costs for families, protect our future water and take care of our veterans – and that is exactly what I intend to do,” Gallego said in a statement Tuesday night.
Gallego enters the general election phase of the race with a cash advantage: He had $8.2 million in his campaign account, compared to Lake’s $2.1 million as of July 10.
Arizona also hosted some notable House primaries on Tuesday.
Freshman GOP Rep. Juan Ciscomani fended off a primary challenger in the 6th District, setting up a rematch with former state Sen. Kirsten Engel, a Democrat.
Engel, who ran uncontested in Tuesday’s Democratic primary, lost to Ciscomani two years ago by less than 2 percentage points. The race for the seat – which covers much of the state’s southeast, including Tucson – is considered a to play by Cook Political Report with Amy Walter.
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