Ruben Gallego to challenge Kyrsten Sinema for Arizona Senate

Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego, a liberal firebrand and prominent Latino lawmaker, announced on Jan. 23 he’ll challenge independent U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema in 2024, becoming the first candidate to jump into the race and setting up a potential three-way contest.

Gallego said he’d fight for normal people struggling to make ends meet and losing faith in politicians. He said he and Sinema both come from "modest to poor means" but have taken different paths in Congress.

"I’m better for this job than Kyrsten Sinema because I haven’t forgotten where I came from," Gallego told The Associated Press in an exclusive interview. "I think she clearly has forgotten where she came from. Instead of meeting with the people that need help, she meets with the people that are already powerful."

Gallego, a 43-year-old military veteran first elected to Congress in 2014, had made no secret of his interest in challenging Sinema, a longtime rival in Arizona politics who has been a roadblock and irritant to Democrats during Joe Biden’s presidency. She left the Democratic Party in December, registering as an independent and saying she doesn’t "fit well into a traditional party system." She has not said whether she plans to run for a second term.

Although no Republican has entered the race, potential contenders include former gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake, former U.S. Senate candidate Blake Masters and Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb — all of whom are closely aligned with former President Donald Trump. Karrin Taylor Robson, a housing developer who lost to Lake in last year’s primary, and former Gov. Doug Ducey are also possible contenders.

A three-way race, coupled with the risk that Sinema and the eventual Democratic nominee will split the vote, would complicate the party’s already uphill battle to maintain control of the Senate in 2024. Democrats will be forced to defend 23 seats, including Sinema’s and two others held by independents, compared with just 10 seats for Republicans.

With tough and expensive races on the horizon, it remains unclear just how firmly the Democratic establishment and major donors will line up against Sinema, who has voted for most Democratic legislation even as she’s stood in the way of major priorities for the White House, congressional leaders and the progressive movement.

"I’m assuming that they will be with us because we are going to run the winning campaign and because at end of the day, if you look at where Arizonans are going to be, they’re going to be with us and not with her," Gallego told the AP.

A spokeswoman for Sinema, Hannah Hurley, did not immediately comment on Gallego’s announcement.

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[ryanreedgibson]

Can't wait to get Sinema out! Started a SuperPAC to do just that!

[thanksbutnothanks]

If AZ falls for Gallego they have lost their minds

[bigfoot-idbv]

Gellego is a tube steak, I’d prefer sinema of course Lake is the best but hopefully she’ll be governor by than.

[glenbarratt]

Kick the ultra-corrupt Sinema out. Gallego is a fantastic replacement.