PHOENIX – Kari Lake won Arizona Republican Senate PrimaryNBC News projects that it has officially set up a critical matchup with Republican Ruben Gallego, a Democrat.
A staunch ally of former President Donald Trump, Lake led Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb 53% to 41% with about 77% of the expected vote. Former news anchor Elizabeth Reye was running in third place.
Lake is advancing in the general election for the seat being vacated by independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema against Gallego, a Phoenix-area House member and Marine veteran who ran unopposed in the Democratic primary. The battleground Arizona race will be among several that determine partisan control of the Senate this fall.
Lake, 54, a former news anchor, first burst onto the political scene during his failed 2022 gubernatorial bid as a popular promoter of false claims that Trump rigged the 2020 election. He then refused to concede his loss to Democrat Katie Hobbs, who is now the governor of Arizona.
Lake heavily touted Trump’s re-confirmation during the Senate campaign. He arrived at the polling station in Paradise Valley on Tuesday with Trump in a new tour bus that featured a giant sign and the words “Endorsed by President Trump.”
“Knowing that I’ve been endorsed by Trump is important to a lot of people in Arizona,” Lake said.
Lake’s challenge will now bring the MAGA-themed message to a wider range of voters in a critical situation for both the race for the White House and control of the Senate. Democrats hold a 51-49 majority in the Senate.
So is Gallego, 44, who was once a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus expressed his desire to work across the aisle while he seeks office across the state.
“In the 554 days since we started this campaign, Arizonans across the state have announced that they want a U.S. senator who can bring people together to protect abortion rights, lower costs for families, protect and care for our water future. of our veterans — and that’s what I intend to do,” he said.
Gallego enters the general election race with a cash advantage: His campaign account had $8.2 million, compared to $2.1 million as of July 10.
Arizona also hosted some notable House primaries on Tuesday.
GOP incumbent Juan Ciscomani defeated his primary challenger in the 6th District, setting up a rematch with former state Sen. Kirsten Engel, a Democrat.
Engel, who ran unopposed in Tuesday’s Democratic primary, lost to Ciscomani by less than 2 percentage points two years ago. It is considered a race for a seat that covers much of the southeastern part of the state, including Tucson. to throw Cook Political Report with Amy Walter.