U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego, an independent candidate running in Arizona's Democratic Senate primary, has booked $19 million in television ads for this fall's general election, his campaign said Monday, adding that it has booked $19 million in television ads for this fall's general election, the most for U.S. Senate candidates across the country. This is the maximum amount for a candidate. far.
In the fall, Mr. Gallego will likely find himself in a tight race against Republican Donald J. Trump ally Kari Lake. They will be vying for the seat currently held by Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, a Democrat who decided not to run for re-election and became an independent. Lake faces a Republican challenger and is expected to easily win the July 30 Republican primary.
The contest has been rated a “toss-up” by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report, but if Mr. Lake and his allies cannot keep up with Mr. Gallego's airwaves as he raises and spends money, Mr. Lake will be at a disadvantage. There is a possibility of participating as At a breakneck pace. Mr. Gallego's $19 million deposit will go toward advertising in the Phoenix and Tucson markets starting June 18, but no campaign has been promised to accompany the purchase.
This reservation is larger than previous reservations set by incumbent Democrats facing re-election fights. Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio is retaining $14.3 million. Nevada Sen. Jacky Rosen is retaining $13.9 million. Sen. Jon Tester of Montana is retaining $8.9 million, according to media tracking firm AdImpact.
Lake, who has falsely claimed election fraud was a key aspect of his failed 2022 gubernatorial race, has lost ground to his base this year in the second statewide race run by establishment Republicans. Efforts were made to expand. She has the backing of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, the campaign arm of the Senate Republican Party, which is backing her in a new TV ad debuting Tuesday, and is working with top Senate Republicans to raise campaign funds.
But she has struggled to tone down her tone, and some national Republicans are trying to regain control of the chamber before deciding whether to invest heavily in taking over Arizona. He has indicated that he is prioritizing the Senate elections. .
Mr. Gallego, meanwhile, is counting on $23 million set aside for advertising by the Democratic group Senate Majority PAC, which has outraised and outspent Mr. Lake in previous races. Mr. Gallego, a congressman who represents a district in Phoenix, has long described himself as a progressive, but he has shed that label in favor of a broader swath of voters across the state. His ability to put positive ads on the airwaves may help ensure that most voters' first impression is of the down-to-earth congressman and former Marine.