Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego won an open Senate race in Arizona, outperforming Vice President Kamala Harris by 8 points among voters in the state. Gallego’s success with Latino voters, who made up over a quarter of Arizona’s electorate, was crucial to his victory. Despite national trends showing Latino men supporting Trump by 12 points, Gallego won them by 30 points. He attributed his success to addressing economic concerns and connecting with voters on a personal level by sharing his own working-class background.
Gallego’s victory was unexpected by some Democrats who doubted his ability to win statewide in Arizona. He distanced himself from the Biden administration’s record on immigration enforcement, focusing on border security as an issue of common ground with Trump. Despite anti-transgender ads targeting Democrats in the state, Gallego’s message about economic issues resonated more with voters.
Republican candidate Kari Lake has not yet conceded the race, but Gallego remains focused on working for all Arizonans, including Lake’s supporters. His campaign strategy of addressing economic concerns and connecting with voters on a personal level proved successful in a state where Trump ultimately won.
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