Republicans Rally Behind Ruben Gallego & Kamala Harris: A Surprising Alliance

In the lead-up to the November elections, friction within Arizona’s Republican Party is increasingly evident as former gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake grapples with an unexpected shift among party members. Following her contentious remarks during her 2022 campaign, where she urged Republicans who supported the late John McCain to “get the hell out,” many have indeed taken a different path.

These disenchanted Republicans are now endorsing Democratic candidates, including Vice President Kamala Harris and Congressman Ruben Gallego. Lake, a fervent supporter of Donald Trump, faces Gallego in a contest for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Kyrsten Sinema, who has opted not to seek reelection.

Lake has consistently echoed Trump’s narrative of election denialism, contesting her 2022 gubernatorial defeat to Democrat Katie Hobbs. However, recent polling data suggests that such tactics may not resonate with a broader audience in the upcoming election. After a narrow primary victory against Sheriff Mark Lamb, Lake now trails Gallego by 11 points, according to a HighGround Public Affairs poll.

Conducted from July 31 to August 5 with a margin of error of 4.4%, the poll indicates that nearly 50% of voters prefer Gallego over Lake’s 39%. While Lake has criticized public polling, asserting her internal polls show strong support from Republicans, skepticism remains among analysts and party insiders.

Paul Bentz, a pollster with HighGround, noted, “She is earning less than 80% of her base vote, a critical segment she cannot afford to lose.” He elaborated that Gallego’s outreach to independent voters has solidified his position, creating a challenging scenario for Lake unless she pivots her strategy.

Lake has attempted to broaden her appeal, hosting an event labeled “Democrats for Lake,” which featured prominent right-wing figures but lacked substantial Democratic endorsement. She claimed her supporters included former Democrats, yet only three individuals spoke on her behalf, none of whom were prominent party figures.

This disconnect underscores a growing trend where Republicans have publicly backed Gallego and Harris. Mesa Mayor John Giles, who previously faced censure from local Republicans for supporting Democrats, openly declared, “our party’s nominee is not qualified for office.” His sentiment reflects a broader disillusionment within traditional Republican ranks.

Notably, influential figures such as former Scottsdale Mayor Sam Campana and former state representative Robin Shaw have also thrown their support behind Harris, indicating a potential shift in voter sentiment against Lake’s aggressive far-right alignment.

While Lake continues to assert her commitment to uniting voters from both parties, her fiery rhetoric and ties to election denialism have alienated some, pushing them toward Democratic candidates. Former Trump press secretary Stephanie Grisham and other GOP members have aligned with bipartisan efforts to rally support for Gallego and Harris.

Julie Spilsbury, a city councilwoman from Mesa, articulated her concerns about Lake’s divisive approach, emphasizing the importance of candidates demonstrating integrity and compassion over party loyalty. “Ruben’s opponent… has shown time and again that she will do nothing to bring us together,” Spilsbury stated.

Lake, undeterred, continues to position herself as a candidate for all Arizona voters, asserting that disillusioned Democrats are welcome in her camp. However, as November approaches, the ongoing divergence within the GOP suggests that Lake may face a tougher battle than anticipated against growing Democratic support in the state.