PHOENIX — Democrat Rep. Ruben Gallego has defeated Republican Kari Lake and will become Arizona’s next senator, Decision Desk HQ said late Saturday, ending one of the most talked-about races this cycle.
Gallego led with 49.7% of the vote compared to Lake – a staunch supporter of President-elect Donald Trump – who captured just 48.2% with about 88% of the vote counted, in the tight race for the now-Republican controlled Senate.
Green Party candidate Eduardo Quintana pulled about 2% of the vote, according to the Decision Desk HQ results page.
Gallego, an incumbent congressman in a Phoenix-area district since 2015, and Lake, a former local news anchor who previously ran for governor, faced off for the seat Democrat-turned-independent Kyrsten Sinema will soon vacate.
Republican Kari Lake is closely allied with former President Donald Trump. Cheryl Evans/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Both candidates aimed to tackle moderate and disaffected voters, particularly Republicans. Gallego won the endorsement of the Arizona Police Association, which backed President-elect Donald Trump.
“I am proud to have the APA’s support and look forward to working with them in the Senate to ensure Arizona’s law enforcement officers have the resources necessary to combat fentanyl trafficking, train the next generation of officers, and, above all, keep Arizona families safe,” Gallego said of the APA endorsement.
Meanwhile, Lake won the endorsements of Ducey and her former gubernatorial primary rival Karrin Taylor Robson – two key figures who are considered popular among moderate Republicans and some independents.
Lake and Gallego faced off in a televised debate in October. Cheryl Evans/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
“You gotta have thick skin. If you’re gonna get in politics, people are gonna throw mud at you. But at the end of the day, you make decisions hopefully based on your philosophy and worldview of what’s right and wrong,” Taylor Robson told The Post in August after her decision to back Lake following their bitter rivalry in 2022.
Inflation and abortion were also two key issues – as inflation soared to a jaw-dropping 13% in 2022 but has since calmed down, and the constitutional right to abortion also had a proposition on the ballot. The proposition passed by a wide margin.
The border became the defining issue of the race with Gallego touting his support for a congressional border bill and Lake earning the nickname “Border Kari Lake” from Trump.
The duo was particularly combative during an Oct. 9 debate that centered on border policies and migrant crime.
“From day one, I’ve worked in a bipartisan manner when it comes to this,” Gallego said on border legislation during the debate.
Gallego opened for former President Bill Clinton in Phoenix in October at a campaign event for Harris. AP
“Murderers have come in, criminals have come in, and terrorists have come in,” Lake said at the time.
Both candidates were closely aligned with the presidential nominees, with the Lake regularly campaigning alongside Trump and Gallego also opening for Harris at numerous events.
Polling indicated an advantage for Gallego throughout the race until the last week, as the race shifted toward Lake more favorably. In the presidential race, Trump is projected to win the state.
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