Republican Backing for Democrat Ruben Gallego's Senate Campaign Grows in Arizona

In a surprising turn of events, Congressman Ruben Gallego, a Democrat from Arizona, has been able to garner support from a number of Republicans for his Senate campaign. Seeking to assemble a winning coalition in the swing state, Gallego has released a list of 39 Republican and independent supporters, which includes moderate Republicans and former members of the party who have previously held elected office or played important roles in business or politics.

The list of supporters, released on Sunday, includes several former aides to the late Senator John McCain, a renowned Arizona Republican who was known for occasionally going against his party's stance. This move by Gallego comes as his Republican opponent, Kari Lake, has criticized McCain in the past, even referring to him as a "loser".

Gallego's ability to secure Republican backing is significant, considering the Democrats' recent success in making inroads within Arizona. Despite Republicans holding a larger number of registered voters in the state, President Joe Biden, Senator Mark Kelly, and Governor Katie Hobbs, along with other Democrats, have achieved narrow victories by keeping their party united, gaining significant support from independents, and obtaining backing from a substantial portion of Republicans who are disenchanted with the direction the GOP has taken under former President Donald Trump.

According to a survey conducted by AP VoteCast, in 2020, around 6 out of 10 independent voters and 1 out of 10 Republican voters supported Biden. Similar patterns were observed in support for Senator Kelly and Governor Hobbs in that year. In 2022, approximately two-thirds of independent voters and 13% of Republican voters showed their support for Senator Kelly, as per the survey. Likewise, around 6 out of 10 independent voters and 1 out of 10 Republican voters backed Governor Hobbs.

Notably, Vice President Kamala Harris also made a similar move on the same day as Gallego, launching her own initiative called "Republicans for Harris" to attract support from conservatives who were put off by Trump's candidacy. The campaign released the names of nearly three dozen Arizona supporters, some of which overlapped with Gallego's list, although it was not an exact copy.

Gallego's opponent, Kari Lake, a former television news anchor and a prominent supporter of Trump, has been known to promote unfounded theories of election fraud. She has labeled Gallego as a liberal Democrat who is out of touch with the moderate voters of Arizona. Lake accuses Gallego of voting in line with Biden and Harris, supporting legislation that has exacerbated inflation, and advocating for the elimination of the Senate filibuster in order to push a liberal agenda.

In response to Lake's critique, Gallego, who served as a Marine in Iraq, is emphasizing his military service and humble financial background. He aims to broaden his appeal beyond the traditionally Democratic district in Phoenix that he has represented since 2015. Gallego asserts that he does not shy away from challenging Biden when he disagrees with the administration's policies, particularly regarding the U.S.-Mexico border. He also views the filibuster as an obstacle to protecting voting rights, abortion rights, and other key priorities.

Among the Republicans endorsing Gallego is Mesa Mayor John Giles, a vocal supporter of Democrats who have run against Trump and his allies, including President Biden and Senator Kelly. Giles, in a statement released by Gallego's campaign, expressed his concern over extremists like Kari Lake, who he believes have taken control of the Republican Party for personal gain and are undermining the very essence of what makes America exceptional.

Gallego's military background, having served as a Marine and facing challenging combat in Iraq, adds to his appeal across party lines. Paul Hickman, a former state director for McCain who describes himself as a lifelong Republican, stated in a release from Gallego's campaign that Gallego, like his former boss, has dedicated years to serving his country and state.

Kari Lake's primary rival, Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, managed to secure about 40% of the vote in the recent primary, despite being outspent five to one by Lake. This outcome gives hope to Democrats that her support within the Republican party may not be as solid as it seems.

In a surprising departure from her 2022 run for governor, where she fiercely criticized McCain and other Republicans who strayed from right-wing ideology, Lake made a point of reaching out to those who had voted against her after accepting victory in the primary.

In response to Gallego's announcement of Republican support, a spokesperson for Lake emphasized that while Republicans may have their differences, they ultimately agree on more than they disagree. They also pointed out Gallego's unwavering support of Vice President Harris, suggesting that his alignment with her may be a point of concern for Republican voters.

While it remains to be seen how Gallego's Republican backing will impact his Senate campaign, this unexpected alliance highlights the changing tides in Arizona's political landscape and the potential shift in dynamics among voters.