AZ U.S. Senate race could be a crowded, expensive brawl

Since Arizona’s 1912 statehood, Arizona has had only thirteen senators, six democrats and seven Republicans. Carl Hayden, a democrat territorial sheriff, was later elected to the senate for a then- unprecedented 43 years, retiring at age 91. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema recently interjected a new component to that mix when she left the democrat party on Dec. 9, 2022. Leaving no room for misinterpretation, Sinema filed her statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission as a registered Independent December 15, 2022 — though, like Sen. Bernie Sanders (Vt.) and Angus King (Maine), she still caucuses with the democrats and remains a decisive vote in their current 51-49 majority.

Hovering in the shadows as Sinema sucks the democrat oxygen from the impeding senate race is dem U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego, who launched a challenge to Sinema in January. His presence is not good news for democrats who rightfully fear a split vote, benefiting GOP candidates. His Hispanic surname will be an automatic asset among that voting demographic.

Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, a Republican, is expected to announce his candidacy for Arizona’s U.S. Senate race this week. Carl Hayden aside, being sheriff of Pinal County (link to U.S. Census Bureau demographics) is not widely regarded as a requisite for a U.S. Senate seat. In anticipation of his senate campaign, in 2020, Sheriff Lamb wrote a paperback book, “American Sheriff: Traditional Values in a Modern World,” noting that he is a descendant of Pilgrims.

Senate races are expensive. This link has facts and graphs detailing the exorbitant costs of a U.S. Senate race, based on Federal Elections Commission data. Whether Lamb can raise the necessary funding is the looming question. The Wall Street Journal recently noted that former GOP gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake is now considering a senate run.