Lake and Gallego Set for High-Stakes Showdown in Arizona Senate Race

In a pivotal moment for Arizona politics, U.S. Senate candidates Kari Lake and Ruben Gallego have confirmed their participation in a televised debate. The event, organized by the Arizona Clean Elections Commission and the Arizona Media Association, is scheduled for 6 p.m. on October 9.

Kari Lake, a former Phoenix news anchor, gained national attention during her run for governor in 2022 as the GOP nominee, although she ultimately lost to Democrat Katie Hobbs by a narrow margin of 17,117 votes. In the aftermath, Lake initiated multiple lawsuits aimed at overturning the results, all of which were dismissed by the courts.

Ruben Gallego, a Democratic U.S. Representative and Marine veteran, has been actively engaged in Arizona politics since his election to Congress in 2014. Initially intending to challenge incumbent Kyrsten Sinema in the Democratic primary, Gallego pivoted following Sinema’s decision to register as an independent and announce she would not seek reelection.

Polling data reveals Gallego currently holds a significant lead in the race, with a RealClearPolitics average indicating a 6.7 percentage point advantage. Earlier this year, Lake declined to engage in a televised debate with her GOP primary opponent, Mark Lamb, ultimately winning the primary with 55 percent of the vote.

In a related development, a second debate has also been set between Southern Arizona U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani and his Democratic challenger, Kirsten Engel. This debate, part of a series hosted by Clean Elections and the Arizona Media Association, focuses on Congressional District 6, which encompasses parts of Pima, Pinal, Cochise, Graham, and Greenlee counties. The district has a slight Republican tilt, with 36 percent of voters identifying as GOP members.

Engel narrowly lost to Ciscomani by just 5,232 votes in the 2022 election, making this year’s contest especially competitive. A previous engagement for this district, hosted by Arizona PBS, is anticipated to air next week.

Several political events are on the horizon, providing voters with opportunities to engage with candidates across various races. For instance, a forum featuring candidates for three seats on the Tucson Unified School District Board is set for August 29, sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Greater Tucson. Additionally, candidates for the Pima County Board of Supervisors in Districts 1 and 3 will meet in a forum on August 31.

Upcoming debates list several significant races, including sheriffs’ debates and discussions for various legislative positions. Key dates include a voter registration deadline on October 7 and Election Day on November 5, promising an active political season ahead.