Arizona's New Senator: Meet Ruben Gallego

In a surprising turn of events, Democrat Ruben Gallego has been elected as Arizona's first Latino U. S. senator, beating Republican Kari Lake. This victory marks a significant shift in Arizona's political landscape, which has historically favored Republicans for Senate seats. Gallego, a five-term House member and Iraq War veteran, ran a campaign focused on his personal story and pragmatic approach. He emphasized his commitment to fixing the immigration system, supporting veterans, and protecting women's reproductive rights. Gallego's win comes as a continuation of Democratic success in Arizona, which started after Donald Trump's election in 2016. Arizona voters have consistently rejected Trump-endorsed candidates since then, including this year's election where the president-elect won the state. Gallego's victory is another example of Arizona voters splitting their tickets, supporting both Trump and a Democratic senator. The race was closely watched, with Gallego leading from the start but seeing his lead narrow as more votes were counted. Arizona's election process is known for being slow due to the high number of mail-in ballots. Gallego's win means the GOP will have 53 seats in the 100-member Senate. Lake, a former television news anchor turned right-wing populist, faced criticism for her staunch belief in election fraud and her inconsistent messaging on topics like abortion and border security. Gallego capitalized on these weaknesses, portraying Lake as untrustworthy and focused on gaining power at any cost. Gallego's victory also signifies a shift in the Democratic Party's strategy, as he downplayed his progressive voting record and emphasized his moderation. This approach seems to have resonated with Arizona voters, who are increasingly showing a preference for pragmatism over ideological purity.