Democrat Ruben Gallego wins Arizona US Senate race against Republican Kari Lake

Democrat Ruben Gallego has been elected Arizona’s first Latino U.S. senator. Gallego defeated Republican Kari Lake. Both parties targeted the closely watched race in their quest for a congressional majority. Gallego’s victory continues a string of Democratic successes in a state that was reliably Republican until Donald Trump was elected president in 2016. Arizona voters had rejected Trump-endorsed candidates in every election since, but the president-elect won the state over Democrat Kamala Harris this year. Gallego is five-term House member and an Iraq War veteran with a compelling up-by-the-bootstraps life story that he featured prominently in his public appearances and ads. He will replace independent and former Democrat Kyrsten Sinema.