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Deputy Ruben Gallego announces his candidacy for Kyrsten Sinema’s seat in the Senate

Deputy Ruben Gallego announces his candidacy for Kyrsten Sinema’s seat in the Senate

Arizona Rep. Ruben Gallego announced Monday that he is running for the U.S. Senate in 2024, setting up a high-stakes battle to win a seat held by Sen. Kyrsten Sinema.

The field of candidates to challenge Sinema, who broke ties with the Democratic Party in December to become independent, is expected to grow, but Gallego’s entry into the race will likely result in a three-way general election for the seat Sinema has not yet announced its plans for 2024.

RUBEN GALLEGO CHALLENGES KYRSTEN SINEMA FOR THE SENATE SEAT: REPORT

The retired Navy announcement is the first by a prominent Democratic candidate to enter the contest.

Sinema’s defection was seen as an acknowledgment that he could not win the primaries.

“As a Marine, I never back down from a fight and in the Senate, I will fight to make sure every Arizonan has the same chance at the American dream that I have,” Gallego said in a statement Monday.

Arizona-based Republican strategist Chuck Coughlin told the Washington Examiner that the race between Sinema and Gallego could get very ugly, very quickly.

“It’s going to be a bitter fight to make sure he can’t get 20 to 23 percent of the Democrats,” he said. “He’s going to be very vocal about how the Democratic Party has failed.”

“Unfortunately, Senator Sinema is once again putting her own interests ahead of getting things done for Arizonans,” Gallego said after Sinema’s decision to leave the party.

Possible GOP candidates include Kari Lake, who lost her gubernatorial race against Gov. Katie Hobbs in 2022, and Blake Masters, who lost her U.S. Senate race to Sen. Mark Kelly. Other Republican hopefuls include U.S. Reps. Andy Biggs, Juan Ciscomani, Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, Karrin Taylor Robson and Arizona GOP Chairwoman Kelli Ward.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

A January 11 poll by Blueprint Polling showed Lake beating both Sinema and Gallego, garnering 36% of the vote, while Gallego and Sinema got 32% and 14%, respectively.

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