arizona news
Has been updated: April 17, 2023 at 11:50 am
Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego is running for the seat of independent Senator Kirsten Cinema in 2024. (Getty Images File Photos)
PHOENIX — Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego raised $3.74 million for Arizona’s 2024 Senate election in the first quarter of this year, surpassing incumbent independent Senator Kirsten Cinema by more than $1.5 million.
Cinema, which has yet to say whether it will seek re-election, received $2.1 million between January and March, according to Federal Election Commission filings.
But Gallego still lags behind in general election funding. $9.9 million for cinema In her Campaign War Chest, Gallego has $2.7 million in assets.
“We are proud to run a people-powered campaign where 98% of our donors are small donors under $100,” Gallego said in a press release Friday.
According to NBC Newsmore than 30% of Sinema’s first-quarter funding came from employees of five major companies and their affiliates: Blackstone, Carlyle Group, Elliott Advisors, Ryan LLC, and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts.
Cinema left the Democratic Party last year to become an independent, and a three-way race could begin in 2024.
Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb announced last week that he would enter the race for the seat in Cinema.
Lamb, who is the first Republican to run for office, is expected to report donations at the end of the second quarter. Kari Lake, Karin Taylor-Robson, Blake Masters and Jim Lamon are reportedly considering joining the race for the Republican nomination.
As in 2020 and 2022, the Arizona race is expected to be a target for both parties to control the Senate in the next Congress.
