The Associated Press has called the closely watched Senate race for Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego.
A closely watched Senate race in a presidential battleground has been called for Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) against former newscaster Kari Lake.
As of 9:52 p.m, Gallego had 50 percent of the vote, while Lake had 47.8 percent—a gap of 72,626 votes—according to The Associated Press.
That was with 95 percent of the vote counted.
“Gracias, Arizona!” Gallego posted to X shortly after the result of the race was called at 9:50 p.m. on Nov. 11.
Lake hasn’t publicly commented on the result as of publication time.
A staunch Trump ally, Lake lost multiple court battles over the outcome of that election, including as recently as June.
Gallego is a Harvard University graduate who served with the U.S. Marine Corps in Iraq. He was elected to Congress in 2014 after serving in the Arizona House.
The two won primaries in the summer, putting them in contention for the seat being vacated by Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), who left the Democratic Party during her term. Sinema decided not to seek reelection.
Lake condemned the Senate bipartisan bill that was floated earlier this year, saying it would enable too many illegal crossings.
Illegal immigrants, she said, were “taking jobs and housing,” later describing herself as “100 percent for legal immigration.”
Gallego defended the legislation, saying it would have provided much-needed technology to border agents.
Polling ahead of the contest consistently showed Gallego leading Lake.
Both Gallego and Lake spoke at their respective parties’ conventions this summer.
In the run-up to election Day, the Democrat sought to distance himself from President Joe Biden’s comment apparently likening Trump supporters to garbage.
Gallego said that no politician should be talking about anybody that way and it didn’t matter who they were.
