Democratic congressman Ruben Gallego and former news anchor, Republican Kari Lake are running to represent Arizona in the U.S Senate. The senate race being so important because it can change which party can control the senate under a new president next year.
“Arizona’s election is for only one seat, but it may have everything to do with shifting control of the Senate, and the balance of power at a time when Democrats cannot lose it,” The Amberst Student said.
At the moment Arizona is a ‘purple state,’ which means it’s not fully republican or democrat.
So whoever wins the election may help their party gain control over The Senate during the upcoming election.
According to Gallego’s speech on January 23, he said “The rich and the powerful, they don’t need more advocates. It’s the people that are still trying to decide between groceries and utilities that need a fighter for them.”
Gallego’s main goal for his senate run is to help out every day citizens of Arizona so that they don’t have to live paycheck to paycheck.
After his announcement several republicans considered running but the one that won the GOP primary election was Kari Lake.
“She focused on themes likely to dominate 2024 races around the country, including inflation and the fentanyl crisis” according to the news outlet Roll Call.
Lake’s main goal as senator is to break down on more widespread problems that are across the country like inflation and the fentanyl crisis.
“While she runs her same, tired playbook of undermining our democracy and pushing to ban abortion’’ Gallego said in a statement to Roll Call.
During Lake’s run for Arizona Governor in 2022, she endorsed a wide spread ban on abortion which many political ads are now using against her.
However as of now she has changed her views.
“Many of them are pro-life like me but they want to have a safe option and this law does not support that” Lake said in a social media video.
Since the statement, Lake has been called out about it at a campaign event.
Likewise, Gallego has stated that Lake will do anything to get power and that he will, as Senator, vote for federal access.
According to Politico, “Gallego has so far outraised Lake each quarter. In the first three months of the year, he raised $7.5 million to Lake’s $3.6 million.”
Every dollar counts in a political campaign because it helps fund for their ads you see on tv and the internet.
Currently Gallego has $3.9 million more dollars than lake in the first three months of their campaign.
“Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego and Republican Kari Lake confirmed they will participate in a debate on Oct. 9 at 6 p.m” according to Arizona’s Family.
The first debate between Gallego and Lake will happen October 9 in which they will both be able to talk about their distinct visions for Arizona.