Arizona Democratic Senate candidate Ruben Gallego is highlighting the support he’s receiving from Republicans as he works to build a broad coalition in the swing state. A list of GOP backers for his campaign, set to be released, includes moderate Republicans and former party members who have held various elected positions or roles in business and politics. Some of them have ties to the late Sen. John McCain, who was known for occasionally going against his party.
On the other side, Gallego’s Republican rival, Kari Lake, has been critical of McCain in the past, referring to him as a “loser.” Democrats have been gaining ground in Arizona after years of Republican dominance. Even though there are more registered Republican voters in the state, Democrats like Sen. Mark Kelly and Gov. Katie Hobbs have secured narrow victories by staying united, winning over independents, and gaining support from Republicans unhappy with the direction of the party under former President Donald Trump.
Lake, a former TV news anchor and staunch Trump supporter, has echoed Trump’s unfounded claims of election fraud. She has labeled Gallego as a liberal Democrat out of touch with Arizona’s moderate voters, accusing him of aligning closely with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, supporting legislation that worsened inflation, and advocating for the elimination of the Senate filibuster to push a liberal agenda.
In response, Gallego, a former Marine who served in Iraq, is underscoring his military background and humble upbringing as he seeks to broaden his appeal beyond his traditionally Democratic district in Phoenix. He asserts that he is unafraid to challenge Biden on policy disagreements, especially concerning the U.S.-Mexico border. Gallego believes the filibuster, which requires 60 Senate votes to pass most bills, hinders efforts to protect voting rights, abortion rights, and other key priorities.
Among the Republicans endorsing Gallego is Mesa Mayor John Giles, a vocal supporter of Democratic candidates who have faced off against Trump and his allies. Giles expressed his concerns about extremists like Lake and their impact on the Republican Party. Lake’s GOP primary opponent, Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, managed to secure about 40% of the vote despite being significantly outspent by Lake, providing a glimmer of hope for Democrats regarding the stability of her Republican support.
Following her primary victory, Lake made a point of reaching out to those who didn’t vote for her, a marked shift from her previous political endeavors where she clashed with Republicans like McCain. She emphasized the need for unity, stating, “This is an all hands on deck moment that requires people from all walks of life.”
