Kyrsten Sinema May Not Be Called “Senator” for Long

It’s “hard to see a real pathway to
Sinema getting re-elected. She was going to lose the Democratic primary, but
there is no path as an independent—especially with her low favorability and no
base. Gallego is a strong candidate,” said D.J. Quinlan, a former Arizona
Democratic Party chairman.

For Republicans, meanwhile, the
argument is that as long as the eventual nominee is not an overly conservative one
who turns off the broader electorate, they have a shot. Republicans pointed to
Kari Lake’s gubernatorial run and how, despite her late surge in the polls, she
lost to Democrat Katie Hobbs. Similarly, at the beginning of the cycle it
looked like Kelly was in serious danger of losing reelection to Republican
Blake Masters. Kelly ended up winning by over 125,000 votes. “There’s a
majority of voters that will vote for a Republican if they are the right
Republican running the right race,” Peutz said. “Experience matters, your
background matters, what you said and did prior to running for office matters.” 

Named bandied about in the GOP
primary include Lake, Masters, and Republican Karrin Taylor Robson, all
candidates who have run statewide before but failed, as well as former Arizona
Governor Doug Ducey. The list, in other words, isn’t short.