In a ground-breaking election Ruben Gallego secured his place as Arizonas first Latino senator beating Republican opponent Kari Lake in a much-watched race (which adds to Democrats recent success in the state)
The win marks a big shift in Arizonaʼs political map; where Senate seats used to be solid-red before 2016 — but things started changing after that. Local voters kept saying no to Trump-backed hopefuls in every race since mid-2010s; even though the ex-presidents pick won the state in this years presidential match-up against Kamala Harris
The battle for this Senate spot showed how Arizonaʼs voting habits have changed: from its long-time Republican roots to a place where both parties now have real chances. Gallegos victory doesnt just make history for Latino representation; it also stops Republicans from getting more power in the Senate