Former McCain, Sinema backers to host fundraiser for Gallego

A group of moderates are set to raise money for Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) on Saturday as his Senate race against Kari Lake heats up, Gallego’s campaign confirmed to The Hill.

Prominent donors to the late Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and outgoing Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) will host a fundraiser for the Phoenix Democrat, proving his appeal to the center. The fundraiser was first reported by Politico.

Both Gallego and Lake have attempted to capture the middle in the race, though Lake has struggled to overcome her controversial 2022 gubernatorial campaign and close alignment with former President Trump.

In that 2022 race, Lake once told McCain-backing Republicans to “get the hell out,” and openly spurned the middle. She also embraced 2020 election fraud conspiracies and later claimed that her election loss was fraudulent.

Gallego has downplayed his long connections to progressive politics, including letting his Congressional Progressive Caucus membership lapse, opting instead to appeal to more mainstream Democrats and moderates in the statewide race.

Arizona is expected to be one of the closest Senate races in the country, as Democrats hope to keep a razor-thin majority in the deliberative body.

The fundraiser could expand Gallego’s financial advantage over Lake. His campaign ended the first quarter of the year with $9.6 million cash on hand, compared to Lake’s $2.5 million. He has outraised Lake by nearly four times since the beginning of the race, bringing in $20.5 million to her $5.6 million.

The money is already being spent, with Gallego announcing a $19 million ad blitz and Lake a $10 million buy on Monday.

Gallego has a 4.1 percentage point lead over Lake in The Hill/Decision Desk HQ average of polls.