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Senate race endorsements: Who’s backing Kari Lake and Ruben Gallego?

Anti-MAGA Republicans love Ruben Gallego, while Kari Lake has the backing of the MAGA base and ... MMA fighters?
Image: Kari Lake and Ruben Gallego
Kari Lake and U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego, the frontrunners in the U.S. Senate race in Arizona, are gathering high-profile endorsements. TJ L'Heureux and Elias Weiss
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Editor's note: This story was initially published on April 3 and was updated on Sept. 27.

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The race to represent Arizona in the U.S. Senate is officially a showdown between former Marine and current Democratic U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego and Kari Lake, a Republican former newscaster who lost the 2022 race for governor. As voters settle on who to support, both candidates have garnered a long list of endorsements to help convince the undecided.

When Independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema decided not to run for reelection in April, a boatload of organizations and politicians backed Gallego. Recently, that has included a host of endorsements from anti-MAGA Republicans. But while Gallego has a massive list of endorsements from officeholders across Arizona — including 23 mayors — he’s touted few from Washington, D.C.

Lake, on the other hand, boasts quite a few endorsements from Washington elites and people who run the federal government — which is ironic considering she’s railed against the “Swamp” and called D.C. “corrupt and broken.” As of Sept. 25, Lake was endorsed by 25 U.S. senators and nine U.S. representatives outside of Arizona, which tracks considering the amount of time she has spent campaigning outside the state. She has been endorsed by four members of Arizona’s congressional delegation and recently garnered about 27 endorsements from Republican state lawmakers.

Additionally, 20 local unions have endorsed Gallego, and none have endorsed Lake. Twenty-five organizations have endorsed Gallego, while nine have endorsed Lake.

Here’s a list of which politicians and organizations have endorsed the two candidates. Almost all endorsements listed below were taken from the websites of each campaign.

click to enlarge Kari Lake on stage
Kari Lake was visibly excited to receive a taped endorsement from former President Donald Trump during her campaign kickoff on Oct. 10.
TJ L'Heureux

Kari Lake’s endorsements

Arizona politicians
Reps. Andy Biggs (R-Gilbert), Paul Gosar (R-Bullhead City), Debbie Lesko (R-Peoria) and Eli Crane (R-Oro Valley)

State Reps. Alex Kolodin (R-Scottsdale), John Gillette (R-Kingman), Steve Montenegro (R-Surprise), Tim Dunn (R-Yuma), Michael Carbone (R-Buckeye), Cory McGarr (R-Marana), Rachel Jones (R-Tucson), Teresa Martinez (R-Casa Grande), Travis Grantham (R-Gilbert), Justin Heap (R-Mesa), David Marshall (R-Snowflake), Joseph Chaplik (R-Scottsdale), Quang Nguyen (R-Prescott), Selina Bliss (R-Prescott), Arizona House Majority Leader Leo Biasiucci (R-Lake Havasu City); state Sens. David Farnsworth (R-Mesa), Janae Shamp (R-Surprise), Sine Kerr (R-Buckeye), David Gowan (R-Sierra Vista), Justine Wadsack (R-Tucson), T.J. Shope (R-Coolidge), Wendy Rogers (R-Flagstaff), John Kavanagh (R-), Anthony Kern (R-Peoria) and Jake Hoffman (R-Queen Creek); Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen (R-Gilbert), Senate Majority Leader Sonny Borrelli (R-Lake Havasu City), Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb (R), Yuma County Supervisor Jonathan Lines, Sahuarita Mayor Tom Murphy and U.S. House candidate Abe Hamadeh (R)

Non-Arizona politicians
Former President Donald Trump (R), former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Newt Gingrich (R), Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R), North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum (R) and former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy (R)

U.S. Sens. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), John Kennedy (R-Louisiana), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Marco Rubio (R-Flor.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), James Risch (R-Idaho), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and John Barrasso (R-Wyo.)

U.S. Reps. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), Wesley Hunt (R-Texas), Brian Mast (R-Fla.), Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), Cory Mills (R-Fla.), Ronny Jackson (R-Texas), Jim Banks (R-Ind.) and Burgess Owens (R-Utah)

Former politicians
Former Arizona Governor Doug Ducey (R), former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio (R), former gubernatorial candidate Karrin Taylor Robson (R), former Vice President of Navajo Nation Myron Lizer (R), former Rep. John Shadegg (R-Phoenix), former Phoenix City Councilmember Sal DiCiccio (R), former National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien and former Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas)

Mixed Martial artists
Henry Cejudo, Colby Covington, Tito Ortiz and Justin Gaethje

Unions
None

Organizations
Oil & Gas Workers Association
Republican National Hispanic Assembly
Nogales Police Officers Association
National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund
Arizona Fraternal Order of Police
Republican Jewish Coalition
Phoenix Police Sergeants and Lieutenants Association
Arizona Law Enforcement Association
Arizona Conference of Police and Sheriffs

click to enlarge U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego
U.S. Ruben Gallego during a rally with former President Barack Obama at Cesar Chavez High School in Laveen on Nov. 2, 2022.
Elias Weiss

Ruben Gallego’s endorsements

Arizona politicians
Gov. Katie Hobbs (D), U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly (D), U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-Tucson), Attorney General Kris Mayes (D), Corporation Commissioner Anna Tovar (D)

State Sens. Eva Diaz (D-Tolleson), Catherine Miranda (D-Phoenix), Brian Fernandez (D-Yuma), Priya Sundareshan (D-Tucson), Theresa Hatathlie (D-Coal Mine Mesa), Flavio Bravo (D-Phoenix) and Democratic Leader Mitzi Epstein (D-Chandler)

State Reps. Stephanie Stahl Hamilton (D-Tucson), Analise Ortiz (D-Phoenix), Stacey Travers (D-Phoenix), Mae Peshlakai (D-Cameron), Patty Contreras (D-Ahwatukee), Nancy Gutierrez (D-Tucson), Oscar De Los Santos (D-Phoenix) and Democratic Leader Lupe Contreras (D-Cashion)

Mesa Mayor John Giles (R), Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego (D), Tucson Mayor Regina Romero (D), Tempe Mayor Corey Woods (D), Tolleson Mayor Juan F. Rodriguez, Parker Mayor Randy Hartless (I), Eloy Mayor Micah Powell (I), Globe Mayor Al Gameros, Superior Mayor Mila Besich (D), Flagstaff Mayor Becky Daggett, San Luis Mayor Nieves Riedel, Somerton Mayor Gerardo Anaya, Nogales Mayor Jorge Maldonado, Page Mayor Bill Diak, Jerome Mayor Christina "Alex" Barber, Winslow Mayor Roberta Cano, Cottonwood Mayor Tim Elinski, Sedona Mayor Scott Jablow, Camp Verde Mayor Dee Jenkins, Clarkdale Mayor Robyn Prud'homme-Bauer, Bisbee Mayor Ken Budge, Fountain Hills Mayor Ginny Dickey, Paradise Valley Mayor Jerry Bien-Willner, Tempe Vice Mayor Jennifer Adams (D), Glendale Vice Mayor Jamie Aldama, Mesa Vice Mayor Francisco Heredia, former Phoenix Vice Mayor Yassamin Ansari (D), Mesa Councilmember Julie Spilsbury (R), Tempe City Councilmembers Berdetta Hodge, Doreen Garlid, Randy Keating and Arlene Chin; Tucson City Councilmembers Kevin Dahl, Paul Cunningham and Richard Fimbres; Chandler Vice Mayor OD Harris, Mesa City Councilmember Jenn Duff, Santa Cruz County Sheriff David Hathaway (D), Pima County Attorney Laura Conover (D), Santa Cruz County Board Chairman Manuel Ruiz, Yuma County Board Chairman Martin Porchas, Yuma County Supervisor Tony Reyes, Coconino County Board Chairwoman Judy Begay and Coconino County Treasurer Sarah Benatar

Former Republican officials from Arizona

Former state Reps. Pete Hershberger, Chris Herstam, Steve May, Robin Shaw, Roberta Voss and Joel John; former Tempe Mayor Neil Giuliano, former Scottsdale Mayor Sam Campana, former Parker Mayor Karen Bonds, former Apache Junction Mayor Doug Coleman, former Phoenix Vice Mayor Peggy Neely, former Tempe City Councilmember Robin Arredondo-Savage, former Mesa City Councilmember David Luna

Non-Arizona politicians
U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.); U.S. Reps. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) and Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.)

Former politicians
Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (D), former U.S. Senator Dennis DeConcini (D), former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), former Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (D-Ariz.), former Rep. Ron Barber (D-Ariz.), former state Senate Democratic leaders Raquel Terán (D-Phoenix), Reginald Bolding (D) and Alfredo Gutierrez (D); former House Democratic Leader Andrés Cano, former state Sen. Kirsten Engel (D-Tucson), former state Reps. Athena Salman (D-Tempe), Marcelino Quiñonez (D-Phoenix) and Cloves Campbell Jr. (D); and former Maricopa County Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox (D)

Mixed martial artists
None

Unions
Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1433
American Federation of Government Employees District 12
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
Arizona AFL-CIO
Arizona Education Association
Arizona State Council of Machinists
Boilermakers Local 627
Communication Workers of America Arizona State Council
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 640
International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 104
Ironworkers Local 75
National Education Association
Service Employees International Union
Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers’ Local 359
United Farm Workers
United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 99
Unite Here Local 11
Western States Carpenters

Organizations
Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans
Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Arizona Police Association
Common Defense
Council for a Livable World
Defend the Vote
End Citizens United / Let America Vote
Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund
Foreign Policy for America
Giffords PAC
Human Rights Campaign PAC
Latino Victory Fund
League of Conservation Voters
Jewish Democratic Council of America
National Organization of Women
Planned Parenthood Action Fund
Reproductive Freedom for All
Rural Arizona Action
Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community
San Carlos Apache Tribe
Sierra Club
Square One Politics
Stonewall Democrats of Arizona
The Long Run PAC
VoteVets