A video purportedly from a virtual town hall event featuring Representative Ruben Gallego (D-AZ-03) shows the Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate claiming the situation at the U.S.-Mexico border is “not as important” to Arizona voters.
Originally posted online by the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), Gallego stated in the video, “The border, people talk about, it’s not as important and salient as it is I think in other states. We do talk about it, we do worry about it, but it is not, I think, as heavy as it is in other states.”
Lake shared the video to the social media platform X, where she wrote in her post that Gallego “says the border crisis is ‘not as important’ in Arizona. He clearly hasn’t talked to ANY Arizonans. How out-of-touch do you have to be to not care about the #1 issue facing our state? In the Senate, I will do what Ruben won’t: Secure the Border [and] Defend Arizona.”
.@RubenGallego says the border crisis is "not as important" in Arizona.
He clearly hasn’t talked to ANY Arizonans.
How out-of-touch do you have to be to not care about the #1 issue facing our state?
In the Senate, I will do what Ruben won’t:
Secure the Border & Defend Arizona pic.twitter.com/uGdQDIr1Oz
— Kari Lake (@KariLake) May 21, 2024
NRSC spokesman Tate Mitchell argued, “Ruben Gallego is blatantly ignoring the issue that Arizonans repeatedly say is their top concern in the 2024 election. Illegal border crossings in Arizona are at historic highs thanks to Gallego and Biden’s open border policies, and his refusal to address that fact isn’t going to change it.”
A recent CBS News/YouGov poll found Lake is 13 points behind Gallego, polling at 36 percent compared to the Democrat’s 49 percent support.
Other polls have shown Lake and Gallego polling much closer, with a survey conducted in April finding them statistically tied.
While general election polls show Lake behind, a February poll of Republican primary voters in Arizona found she had a 33-point lead over her nearest opponent, Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb.
Amid calls for Lake and Lamb to debate ahead of the July 30 primary election, Lake’s campaign stated she has agreed to participate in “an AZGOP-sanctioned primary debate” and noted Lake’s fundraising recently eclipsed Lamb’s.
Lake recently challenged Gallego to a televised debate over abortion but reported the Democrat’s campaign immediately declined the offer.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Ruben Gallego” by Tate Mitchell.
