Polls point to a close race, with Senator Kyrsten Sinema potentially serving as a spoiler candidate.
Representative Ruben Gallago, a Democrat, launched his campaign to challenge Arizona Senator Krysten Sinema on Monday, setting up what is expected to be one of the closest Senate races of 2024.
Arizona emerged as one of the closest swing states in recent elections, with Democrats winning most statewide elections in the 2022 midterm elections. But Sinema—a former Democrat who announced late last year that she would switch her party affiliation to independent—adds an extra layer of uncertainty to the 2024 election.
Democrats worry Sinema, who has not yet said whether she plans to run for reelection, could siphon off enough votes to help a Republican flip the seat. Prior to dropping her Democratic affiliation, Sinema enraged many in her own party over her opposition to eliminating the filibuster to pass key legislation, including a nationwide law securing reproductive rights.
