PHOENIX — Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego will be Arizona’s first Latino senator next year, NBC News projects, after he defeated Republican Kari Lake amid a protracted vote count in one of the key swing states. Trump won the state in 2016 and won it again this year by what appears to be his biggest margin in any of the core swing states. But he kept his message homed on the issues behind those identities, linking them to border security, comprehensive immigration reform and expanded mental health services for veterans. Gallego focused on his party’s strengths, like reproductive rights, but he also tried to tackle his party’s weaknesses head-on, advertising on issues like border security. Lake tried to tie Gallego to Biden and his administration on a host of issues, but especially border security, a key focus of hers during their lone debate in October.

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Persons: Ruben Gallego, Republican Kari Lake, Gallego, Sen, Kyrsten Sinema, Donald Trump, Trump, Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, MAGA, Juntos Con Gallego, Biden, “ Trump, ”, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego Organizations: PHOENIX — Democratic, NBC News, Republican, Democratic, Congressional Progressive Caucus, Senate, Trump, Marine, Veterans, Juntos, Phoenix Mayor Locations: Arizona