Democrat Ruben Gallego Projected Winner in Arizona Senate Race Against Kari Lake

Democrat Ruben Gallego has defeated Republican Kari Lake in their closely watched US Senate contest in Arizona, as projected by CBS News, the BBC’s US partner. Mr. Gallego, a 44-year-old Iraq War veteran who has served in the US House of Representatives, holds an approximate two-point lead over Ms. Lake, 55, a former news anchor and an outspoken supporter of Donald Trump. This election occurs two years after Ms. Lake, who disputes the outcome of the 2020 presidential election, lost the Arizona governor race, a result she also challenged. Mr. Gallego’s victory provides some reassurance for Democrats in a swing state that did not favor them in the presidential election, and it contributes to the broader struggle for control of the Senate. Mr. Gallego is set to become the first Latino to represent Arizona in the US Senate, succeeding independent lawmaker and former Democrat Kyrsten Sinema. The battleground state of Arizona had not elected a Democratic US senator for three decades before Ms. Sinema secured her seat, followed by fellow Democrat Mark Kelly, who won John McCain’s seat in 2020 after his death. Having initially entered politics with progressive viewpoints, Mr. Gallego was observed by political analysts to be campaigning on a more moderate platform in 2024. He emphasized his military background and pledged to reduce rising costs and to rectify a “broken” immigration system in the border state. Ms. Lake, conversely, frequently attacked Mr. Gallego’s personal life, including the criminal history of his estranged father. She consistently lagged behind Mr. Gallego in the polls leading up to the election. Next year, the Republican Party is expected to gain control of the Senate, the upper chamber of the US Congress, with a narrow majority. Meanwhile, they remain a few seats short of achieving majority control in the House, the lower chamber, although several races are still too close to call.