CNN
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Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego of Arizona on Monday announced his campaign for US Senate, installation up potential collision in 2024 with Senator Kirsten Cinema, who recently changed it party affiliation from democratic to independent.
Gallego, Phoenixarea congressman and retired Marine who served in Iraq, released a video of he tells group of fellow veterans about their decision to run.
“You first group of people who hear it but mine family. I will challenge Kirsten Cinema for United States Senate and I need Everybody of your support,” Gallego, 43, said. group veterans organization in Guadalupe, Arizona.
Cinema has faced harsh criticism from Democrats for opposite elements of Agenda for President Joe Biden. Early last year, while the Arizona senator was still a Democrat, Gallego said some Democratic senators urged him run for her place. Cinema said in She changed parties in December but continues to compete in caucuses. with Senate Democrats and has not publicly stated whether she will run for re-election.
“Most families think that they one or two salaries from ruin. Is not way what we should live in this country,” Gallego said. in his announcement video. “Rich and powerful they are not need more lawyers. it people who are still trying to choose between products and utilities that need fighter for them.”
gallego, who is of Colombian and Mexican ancestry would be from Arizona. first Hispanic Senator if elected. He said in both English and Spanish in his announcement video and described the difficulties and financial his instability family faced when he was growing up up
Gallego said that his mother was an immigrant, “cried, like every night in a state of stress out about how she was going to raise, like four kids on a secretary salary, you know, with missing father”.
“Fue una experiencia muy dura”, Gallego added in Spanish, which translates as: “It was very hard experience”.
Gallego was first elected To home in 2014. He is a member of Congressional Progressive Group and also chaired the Caucus of Hispanics in Congress. campaign hand, BOLD PAC, during the 2022 cycle.
Arizona Democrat in his announcement video of suffering post- traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after his deployment to Iraq in 2005.
“Losing all my friends, constant shelling and people trying to blow you up up all the time – you never cum completely back from the war. You are not the same person anymore,” Gallego said. “While struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder, there were some very uncomfortable moments. in my life. But I still don’t give up. i pushed forward. I found a new way keep serving.”
Philip Letsu, Representative for National Republican Senatorial Committee responds to Gallego’s statement announcement in statement: “Democratic Civil War on in Arizona. Chuck Schumer has a choice: stand with open borders radical Ruben Gallego or back its current president, Senator Kirsten Sinema.”
Several Republicans are considering running for office for Cinema seat. Losing Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake is considering a Senate bid, according to a source close to Lake.
Lake loses Arizona governorship race in November trailed Democrat Kathy Hobbs by less than 1 point and didn’t concede, falsely claiming as early as Sunday that she won elections. Arizona Judge in December dismissed Lake’s lawsuit trying to undo her defeat, concluding that there was no clear or hard evidence of misdemeanor. Lake, serial promoter of election lies who denies the result of 2020 presidential election, filed an appeal with the court decision. A source told CNN that Lake would not do final decision on Senate run until her legal case is completed.
Republican Blake Masters, who lost challenge in November before incumbent Democratic Senator Mark Kelly by almost 5 points is also “strongly considering” running for Senate in 2024, according to a spokesperson. The masters have also denied the result of in the 2020 election, but, unlike Lake, conceded race to Kelly.
karrin taylor robson, who lost to the lake in last year Republican primary, despite being backed by GOP state governor Doug Ducey at the time, also indicated that it might be open to Senate proposals.
“Instead of of issuance of a check on radical Biden agenda, our senators continue to promote his disastrous policies, which were terrible for Arizona”, former member of Arizona Council of The Regents told CNN in statement. ‘Til I still decide how I can best serve the state that I love, I agree with many Arizona who reached out and who, like me, we hope that our party appoint a strong, authentic conservative who won’t pull defeat out of its mouth of victory”.
