In his bid for the Senate, Arizona Democrat Ruben Gallego is making strides by securing the backing of Republicans, as he aims to assemble a winning coalition in the swing state. Gallego's campaign released a list on Sunday, which included 39 Republican and independent supporters who are endorsing his candidacy. Notably, among these supporters are moderate Republicans and former Republicans who have held elected office or played significant roles in business or politics. Several of them have previously served as aides to the late Senator John McCain, the renowned Arizona Republican who was known for occasionally going against his own party.

Gallego's Republican opponent, Kari Lake, has previously expressed criticism towards McCain and even referred to him as a "loser." This highlights the contrasting approaches between the two candidates, as Gallego aims to bridge political divides while Lake aligns herself closely with former President Donald Trump, promoting false and debunked theories of election fraud.

Arizona has seen a shift in political dynamics with Democrats making inroads after years of Republican dominance. Despite Republicans having a higher number of registered voters in the state, Democrats like President Joe Biden, Senator Mark Kelly, and Governor Katie Hobbs have managed to secure narrow victories by maintaining party unity, dominating among independent voters, and garnering support from a substantial portion of Republicans who are dissatisfied with the direction of the GOP under Trump.

According to recent AP VoteCast data, approximately 60% of independent voters and 10% of Republican voters supported Biden in the 2020 presidential election, with similar figures supporting Kelly and Hobbs in their respective races. In the 2022 election, around two-thirds of independents and 13% of Republican voters supported Senator Kelly.

Gallego's announcement of reaching out to Republicans coincided with Vice President Kamala Harris launching her own initiative called "Republicans for Harris," aiming to appeal to conservatives who were put off by Trump's candidacy. While there is some overlap between Gallego's list and Harris's supporters in Arizona, the two are not identical.

Gallego, who also served as a Marine in Iraq, is drawing attention to his military background and humble upbringing in a financially challenged setting. He aims to broaden his appeal beyond the firmly Democratic district in Phoenix that he has represented since 2015. Gallego asserts that he is not afraid to oppose the Biden administration's policies when he disagrees, particularly regarding the U.S.-Mexico border. He views the Senate filibuster as a hindrance to advancing voting rights, abortion rights, and other key priorities.

Among the Republicans endorsing Gallego is Mesa Mayor John Giles, who has consistently supported Democrats running against Trump and his allies, including Biden and Kelly. Giles expressed his endorsement by stating, "I cannot in good conscience stand on the sidelines while extremists like Kari Lake, who have hijacked our party for the sake of personal gain, undermine the very fabric of what makes America exceptional."

Gallego's ability to secure support from Republicans is seen as a positive sign for his campaign, especially as Lake's primary rival, Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, managed to earn about 40% of the vote despite being heavily outspent. Democrats are hopeful that Lake's Republican support remains fragile, particularly as she had previously targeted prominent Republicans like McCain.

While Gallego's opponent claims that he is out of touch with Arizona's moderate voters and accuses him of voting in lockstep with Biden and Harris, Gallego's military service and commitment to challenging the administration when necessary are intended to appeal to a broad range of voters.

As the race for the Arizona Senate seat intensifies, Ruben Gallego's ability to attract Republican support highlights the importance of building diverse coalitions and bridging political divides in the tightly contested swing state.