AZ-SEN: Ruben Gallego Set to Launch Senate Campaign Against Kyrsten Sinema

[RandySF]

Arizona Representative Ruben Gallego, a former Marine combat veteran who was critical of Senator Kyrsten Sinema's leadership and fidelity to the Democratic Party long before she announced she was leaving it to become an independent, will announce his 2024 Senate campaign to challenge her on Monday, Newsweek has learned first.

Gallego, the chair of BOLD PAC, the political arm of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, plans to make the announcement via a video in English and Spanish that was shot in his home district, which includes parts of Phoenix, according to three sources briefed by the campaign.

Gallego has made no secret of both his frustration with Sinema's brand of politics and his flirtation with running for her seat, and Democrats expected a possible intra-party clash between them to be explosive and expensive.



https://www.newsweek.com/ruben-gallego-set-launch-senate-campaign-against-kyrsten-sinema-1775135

[Red Mountain]

1. Her performance in Davos....

makes me wish him good luck.

[Judi Lynn]

2. She was an embarrassment to the human race in Davos.

Someone was out to get us in inviting her and Joe Manchin to speak! Ouch.

We were already down for the count with the rest of the world knowing Trump had been elected.

[peppertree]

25. Absolutely, Judi - but then, Davos is the world's foremost forum for big-name incompetents

They basically gather to hob-nob - and above all to audition in front of Da Bosses (who no doubt laugh at them anyway).

Rarely does it produce anything insightful - much less prescient.

[bottomofthehill]

3. Too bad, he will be missed in the House

And I don’t think he can win a 3 way race for the senate

[appmanga]

9. Sinema is...

...one of the most unpopular members of the Senate among her constituents. She's in the low 40s with Independents and Republicans, and at 30 percent with Democrats. In my experience, Republicans will vote for an actual Republican over Republican-lite so Gallego's task is to pick off some reasonable share of Independents, who make up, I believe, just over 1/3 of Arizona's electorate. She's very beatable in a 3-way race and her alienation of Latinos is going to hurt her badly.

[bottomofthehill]

24. I hope so but

Marc Kelly got 51.4 percent of the vote in a 3 way race that was really 2 main parties and a +/-2% person

The Republican High Water Mark is about 46.5 percent

If she holds on to 7 of her supporters, a republican gets elected. George Santos could pull 7 percent if he ran today in NY, She will pull 7%. She is garbage, an attention whore, a stain, you say it she is it, but, she has figured this out. if not her, a republican.

think of it this way

Blake Masters 46.5
Ruben Gallego 46.0
Kristin Sinema >7

[Celerity]

32. If it is White Power Masters or Toxic Lake, she will likely draw a chunk of never-MAGAt Rethugs

More than she pulls from Gallego I wager.

Where is gets really dicey for us is if the Rethugs nominate a non MAGAt conservative, like Ducey, although we may be catching a huge break (like we did when Sununu refused to run for the Senate in NH in 2022) as Ducey is probably not going to run, at least as of now. He turned a Senate run down in 2022 as well.

IF they do find a decent non MAGAt (looking less likely now), then Simema would draw likley far less Rethug votes then and may well pull more from Gallego than she does from the non MAGAt Rethug.

Finally, Sinema and also the tens of millions in dark money that we all know is coming (if she runs) can also fuck us badly if she and then the dark money all attack Gallego and insanely try to paint him as an ultra left socialist/commie.

[Desert Dog]

33. Spot On

Your analysis seems on target. There are some things that could work in our favor.

Rat buggery. GOP primary will be a circus. Since we won't have one (assuming Stanton stays out), then maybe some of us could re-register as independent and vote GOP to support max crazy. Growing up in AZ, I have tried this for years but I am just one vote. Regardless, with media and internet, we could hype their most Maga loon. Lake would be perfect, as she implodes with her fantasy office. We can beat Masters too. Ducey and Robson might be tough.

Sinema is the laziest politician on the planet. She has so many side interests that I doubt she would work hard - if she knew she would get 10% and be a complete embarrassment. The money and ads will be there from GOP/Maga interest groups, but she will not really work for them. She is also an egomaniac who can never be wrong. She can't risk a catastrophic loss - as it would be the final stamp on her brand. Now she is quirky both sides doofus. After the general she will be a LOSER. Will TV execs line up for her then? Would she really have pull as a lobbyist? No Dem with a brain would take a meeting with her. GOP is just tolerating her to irk Dems. Would she spend her money to lose in epic "fashion". I doubt it. She has sleezed up too hard for that cash. Does she need to run to convert campaign coffers into her personal take? Maybe that is the performance she is doing now - only to withdraw from the electoral bloodbath she will surely receive.

Finally.. Sinema has been a literal clown during her Senate term. An independent targeted ad - minus politics - centered on her lunacy will reverberate strongly in AZ. Theme: "During these tough times - Arizonans DESERVE a senator who takes the job seriously and does not act like a fool." Start running the ads NOW. Show her what is coming. Tell the voters about her sideshow, limited work hours and complete disregard for constituent access. A montage of her teenage outfits should bury her.

Sinema spiral NOW might be a good thing. GOP would have crushed her for her antics. Now we can do it ahead of time and clear the menace. The saddest part of KS is she could have been a real leader. She should be leading the fight for reproductive and voting rights and she RAN in the other direction. She is the biggest sellout in electoral politics that I can remember. Also.. If she is still in it, 3 months before the general election - Schumer should drop her from committees for running against a real Democrat. Let AZ voters know that her play the fence game won't work in the future.

[Whiskeytide]

31. I hope you're right. But a large chunk of those independents in AZ are ...

… actually republicans pretending to be apolitical. In a three way race, small percentage points matter a great deal. Sinema will get exactly zero Republican votes (as you suggest). And she will likely pull more independents away from Gallegos than she will the Republican. Hell, she may well keep some low-info Dems. That’s going to be tough to overcome in a state that is statistically close anyway.

And I don’t think she wants to win. I think she’s in it to pad her campaign accounts and deliver the seat to republicans in some sort of deal she’s made with them, and then she’ll move on the the next thing.

[ananda]

4. Good!

...

[spooky3]

5. +1

[KarenS]

6. Arizona voter here,,, Good! n/t

[liberalgunwilltravel]

7. Going to be a lobbyist

I don't believe Sinema is going to run for re-election. Too much work and not enough money for her liking. I fully expect her to take a lobbying gig when her term is done. Of course, she could run as a third party candidate to ensure a Republican win to please her wealthy pay masters.

Please don't cite me for breaking rules here. It's been a tough year for Western New York, so GO BILLS!

[Pisces]

11. She won't ensure a Republican win. Democrats here in Az are not split on her.

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

26. wouldnt be surprised to see her on fox tv

[Desert Dog]

34. but..

She doesn't really do media appearances. She only occasionally does scripted - softball local stuff. Sinema is way too cool for media school. She does photo ops and that won't cut it on pundit TV. She does look the part and carry the water. She also likes to bloviate her opinion.. Doesn't she have to have some listening skills to do TV? I think she does TV only as a last resort.

I expect her to get a corporate gig somewhere that requires no work. Pharmaceutical industry? She just wants to screw off. Drink wine. Buy and sell clothes. Travel. She does not want to play by anybody's rules. She is the Great Kristen Sinema and does whatever she wants. Now that her net worth has skyrocketed since the Senate position, she will want to kick back and live it up. She obviously doesn't care about reproductive or voting rights.

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

35. " She obviously doesn't care about reproductive or voting rights." This!!!

[grantcart]

28. I agree.

Except about the hard work. Sinema has a laser focus and runs marathons for relaxation.

She will become a hard working lobbyist.

[Roisin Ni Fiachra]

8. I expect he will break records for receiving grass roots donations for a Senate

campaign. I'm hoping to be the first to donate to future Senator from AZ Gallego after he announces.

In contrast, Sinema may break records for senate campaign donations from corporations and wealthy individuals.

[Pisces]

10. Great!! I will be voting for him. She needs to go!!!!!!!

[groundloop]

12. This will be interesting.... I sure hope he can pull it off.

And if by chance this seat goes to the GQP I'd blame Sinema and NOT Rep. Gallego. She clearly needs to go.

[Lonestarblue]

13. Is his seat in the House safe for Dems?

[kairos12]

14. Yes it is.

[grantcart]

22. Lol + 40 Democratic

[republianmushroom]

15. like it

[bmichaelh]

16. What will Chuck Schumer do

I wonder what Chuck Schumer will do.

Do not know if this is true.

I have heard Democratic funds do not support the Democrats running against Sanders (VT) and King (ME) because they caucus with the Democrats.

[GoodRaisin]

30. Yeah, because they actually vote with Democrats.

Bet on Democratic nominee getting Democratic funds.

[lees1975]

17. That will be good for Arizona Democrats up and down the ticket.

[Cha]

18. Best of Good Luck to Rueben

Gallego!

[UTUSN]

19. He's great, so, no chance in AZ?

[grantcart]

23. He has a chance: smart combat veteran

But the Republicans need to have a bloody civil war and nominate a nut job, which is likely.

Virtually all state wide offices are held by moderate Democrats

[UTUSN]

27. Thanks for the info

[Coventina]

20. Love him! Go, go, Gallego!!!

[Hekate]

21. Sounds like good news to me! Somebody be sure to let us know when his ActBlue account is up....

He has friends at DU.

[GoodRaisin]

29. It would be wonderful for her replacement to be a real Democrat.

It would be like picking up a seat.