The focus of this article is on the Senate races in California, Nevada, and Arizona, which are shaping up to be interesting and potentially impactful. In California, four contenders participated in a televised debate to replace the temporary senator who took over after Diane Feinstein’s death last year. Adam Schiff is currently the favorite, but the big question is who will come second and face him in the general election. Barbara Lee and Katie Porter are vying for the progressive vote, while former Los Angeles Dodger Steve Garvey is running as a Republican with a focus on practical concerns. Garvey, despite having little political background, has gained some recognition from his time as a baseball player in the 1980s.
In Nevada, the outcome of the Senate race is less predictable. Incumbent Jacky Rosen is up for reelection, and the Republican candidate, Sam Brown, is a veteran who was severely wounded in Afghanistan. However, the GOP base in Nevada has been unpredictable in recent years, and it’s possible that a less palatable candidate could win the primary. This would be beneficial for Rosen and likely ensure her reelection. In Arizona, Kyrsten Sinema isn’t running for reelection as a Democrat but may try to reclaim her seat as an independent. Progressive Representative Ruben Gallego is expected to win the Democratic primary, while failed gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake is the likely Republican opponent. Recent polling shows Gallego and Lake tied in a head-to-head, with Gallego taking a narrow lead if Sinema runs as an independent.
The article also highlights a political scandal in Arizona, where Kari Lake released a tape of Arizona GOP chair Jeff DeWit offering her a bribe to drop out of the Senate race. DeWit has since resigned, and Lake hopes to use the scandal to solidify her control over the state’s GOP base. However, there is little evidence that Arizona’s electorate as a whole supports Lake’s extreme views, and the state has been trending more Democrat in recent election cycles. If Gallego runs a strong campaign, he should be able to edge out both Sinema and Lake in the general election. Overall, these Senate races have the potential to shift the political landscape in these states.
