Ruben Gallego Surges Ahead of Kari Lake in Intense Senate Showdown

PHOENIX — As the race for U.S. Senate heats up, Republican Kari Lake enters the final stretch with approximately $4.5 million available. In contrast, her opponent, Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego, boasts $7.2 million in his campaign fund. This financial disparity might not fully reveal the dynamics of the campaigns, particularly given how Gallego has amassed and utilized his funds.

Recent disclosures to the Federal Elections Commission indicate that Lake raised about $7.6 million in the third quarter, primarily from individual donors. Her total funding since announcing her candidacy to replace Kyrsten Sinema surpasses $16.6 million. With additional funds transferred from other committees, her total campaign contributions exceed $19 million.

Lake’s spending in the same three-month period reached $6.2 million, resulting in total expenditures of $14.5 million. This careful management of funds allowed her to retain a buffer of $4.5 million, an increase of over $2.1 million from three months prior.

On the other hand, Gallego’s fundraising surged, bringing in over $20 million in the last quarter alone, pushing his campaign total close to $54 million. However, he also spent $21.4 million during this time, resulting in total expenses nearing $46.9 million.

Polling suggests a still-existing gap between the candidates. Despite Lake’s claims of success in last week’s televised debate, polling data from the Republican-linked Trafalgar Group indicates she is trailing Gallego by approximately 3.7 points, hardly a significant shift given the 2.9 percent margin of error.

Moreover, Gallego’s campaign benefits from substantial support beyond his own fundraising efforts. Protect Progress, a major supporter of Democratic candidates aligned with cryptocurrency initiatives, has invested $3.5 million in advertising for Gallego, a figure higher than any other candidate they support. Additional contributions include $1.8 million from VoteVets and $1.7 million from the LCV Victory Fund, both aimed at boosting Gallego’s visibility and outreach.

Lake’s team, meanwhile, perceives the extensive spending as a sign of Gallego’s vulnerability. Advisor Caroline Wren emphasized on social media that Democratic expenditures may indicate uncertainty about winning the race. She noted that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is allocating significant PAC resources to Arizona, more so than in other states with Democratic incumbents.

As Election Day approaches in under three weeks, Gallego continues to maintain his lead in various polls, a challenging position for Lake. While she’s receiving some external financial support, such as $186,977 from the Senate Conservatives Fund aimed at boosting her candidacy, the overall financial backing for Gallego from outside groups remains significantly larger.

In this intensifying race, both candidates are leveraging their financial resources as they make their final appeals to voters. The outcomes will largely depend on how effectively they can translate their spending into actual votes.