Ruben Gallego Projected to Win Arizona Senate Seat

Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego has been projected to win the U.S. Senate seat in Arizona, defeating Republican Kari Lake and making history as the state's first Latino senator. This victory comes as a significant achievement for Democrats amid a challenging election cycle, where they faced losses in other key races. Gallego, a former military veteran and congressman, focused his campaign on issues such as abortion rights and the economy, while Lake struggled to gain traction among moderate and independent voters. Despite Gallego being favored in pre-election polls, the race was closely contested, with Lake failing to concede her defeat as she did in her previous gubernatorial loss. Gallego will replace retiring independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, who left the Democratic Party after losing support from its base. The outcome of this race adds to the shifting political landscape in Arizona and the broader implications for the Senate composition.