Democrat Ruben Gallego has been elected Arizona’s first Latino U.S. senator, defeating Republican Kari Lake and preventing Republicans from further padding their Senate majority.
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00:00This is the greatest country in the world, and the only way I could be here is because
00:07of this great country, and I want to thank them for that.
00:11For those that don't know me, my name is Ruben Gallego.
00:14I am a husband, a Marine, a father, and a proud Arizonan.
00:20And with the results we saw tonight, your next senator from the great state of Arizona,
00:25and the first Latino senator in the history of Arizona.
00:31It was not an easy road, and many of you have been with me, not just today, not just for this
00:37last election, but for almost 20 years in one way or the other, fighting not for me, but for Arizona.
00:46And it started many, many years ago with my mom raising me and my three sisters just on a
00:52secretary salary. And like too many moms across this country, she did not have enough, and she
00:58did not have it easy. But she gave us everything she could. She worked night and day, all to give
01:05us a shot at the American dream. And only in America can four children raised by an immigrant
01:10single mom grow up to become a teacher, a doctor, a businesswoman, and now a soon-to-be senator.
01:18We launched this campaign 22 months ago. 22 months ago. And just like then, and just like now,
01:27I believe that every kid should have a chance at the American dream. And we have talked about that
01:33all across Arizona. We've traveled the state. We've gone to the reddest parts of the state,
01:39gone to the bluest parts of the state. We've gone to parts of the state that have not been visited
01:43by anyone and shown respect and asked for their opinion and asked for them to be part of the
01:48process. And what I've learned from every part of this state, from Democrats, Republicans,
01:53Independents, is that we all just want a better life for ourselves and the ability to give our
01:58kids the best possible future that they could have. So that's exactly what I'm going to fight for
02:03in the Senate. And I'll work with anyone to get their job done for Nuestras Familias and for
02:10Arizona. I'll fight to secure a broken, fight to fix a broken immigration system and security.
02:19I'll fight to lower costs on everything, gas, groceries, rent, and more. Let's not just forget
02:25also our veterans today. Because I want to make sure that our veterans who have done everything
02:30they can, who have served their country, who we were very quick to send to war, when they get
02:35back we're not as quick to give them the services and VA services that they deserve, that they are
02:40not forgotten when everyone is there fighting for them. And of course I'll always defend
02:46abortion rights because no politician has a right to tell a woman what she can do with her body.
02:52For all the Arizonans who supported me, the Democrats, Republicans, and Independents, and for
02:57those that did not support me or did not vote for me, please know I will always still fight for you.
03:05I will treat you with respect and we may not agree all the time, but I will always do my best
03:11to serve you. As hard as I fought to get out of poverty, as hard as I fight now for my family,
03:18as hard as I fought in the Marines, I will fight for Arizona and Washington D.C.