AZ-SEN: Rep. Ruben Gallego, averting primary bloodbath, won't run for the Senate

[RandySF]

Rep. Ruben Gallego will not run for the U.S. Senate in 2020’s special election, he told The Arizona Republic on Monday, clearing the path for retired astronaut Mark Kelly to take on incumbent Republican Sen. Martha McSally without a potentially bruising primary fight.

Gallego’s decision will disappoint progressive Democrats, who represent the left flank of the party and are especially hostile toward President Donald Trump.

Those voters wanted Gallego, 39, to wage a fight against Kelly, who is presenting himself as a centrist Democratic candidate who will make decisions based on data and science, not partisan politics or ideology.

By removing himself from running, Gallego, D-Ariz., also dashes GOP hopes of a competitive Democratic primary race that could have freed McSally, R-Ariz., to focus on her own campaign message while Gallego and Kelly battled it out for their party's nomination.

In Gallego, Republicans saw an opportunity to wound Kelly by forcing him to answer for the more liberal positions that reflect the party's general direction.


“I don’t want to engage in a bitter primary all the way until the general election, and then turn around and try to run, whether it’s me or Kelly, against McSally in a year when the Democrats need to win the Senate seat and take the state,” Gallego told The Republic. “It’s just not in the best interest of the state or the Democratic Party to be engaging in that. … If Republicans are excited to see a spirited and nasty primary, they’re going to have to look somewhere else because I’m not going to take part in that.”



https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2019/03/25/arizona-us-rep-ruben-gallego-wont-run-u-s-senate-seat/3271786002/

[JI7]

1. democratic control of the house probably made that decision easier

[Bradshaw3]

2. Good decision

I believe Kelly has a better chance against McSally.

[Awsi Dooger]

4. Phenomenal decision

Arizona has 41% self-identifying conservatives. Nominating from the far left in that state would be the equivalent of nominating Andrew Gillum over Gwen Graham in Florida.

Our primary voters get giddy about certain states and are determined to force candidates who will be routinely rejected.

Somebody in another thread put it well regarding Texas, that the state is turning and not turned. Likewise in Arizona. Just because we narrowly pulled out a senate race given a national tilt of 8 points in our favor doesn't mean we can start stupidly pretending every cycle will feature an 8 point tilt and shove any Democrat over the line.

[Bradshaw3]

6. Yes, Democratic pols and voters have to be smart in their decisions

Although not totally comparable to Gallego, Garcia ran as an unapologetic liberal for governor and got 41 percent of the vote. In the age of tRump we have to be very strategic and not get so excited about close races in, as you point out, Texas or other states like AZ that show promise. Enthusiasm is good but passion can't overtake political realities.

[LongtimeAZDem]

3. That's disappointing

[Blue_true]

5. That is the type of decision that a real democrat that cares about the party and country makes.

He wants the Democratic Party to be strong and united against McSally.

[Cha]

7. Wow! I admire Rep Rueben Gallego! Someone

who cares more about the country and the Dem party than risking a Senate seat in a primary.

Props!

Oh, and I think All of us are "hostile towards trump.." FYI!

[allgood33]

9. YES!!!

[Celerity]

8. smart move, AZ is a massive key if we are going to take back the Senate

[athena]

10. Imagine where we would be today if ...

... someone else had judged similarly in 2015. We would have two liberal SC justices in the place of the two right-wing nutcases. The ACA would be strengthened, not dismantled. And we wouldn’t have alienated our closest international allies.

[Demsrule86]

11. I fail to see how progressives think far left will win Arizona when we just began

To win there in 18. Wise decision.