A heated Senate race in Arizona intensifies as Republican Kari Lake trails Democrat Ruben Gallego with thousands of votes still uncounted.
According to Newsweek, the Arizona Supreme Court has rejected a request to extend the deadline for voters to rectify issues with their mail-in ballots, as Gallego maintains a narrow lead with 49.7 percent of the vote compared to Lake's 48.2 percent.
The race remains closely watched, with approximately 92 percent of votes counted on Sunday morning. Voter rights organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union and the Campaign Legal Center, had sought an emergency court order to extend the deadline for ballot curing.
Their petition, filed Saturday, requested up to four additional days for voters to address signature verification issues among the more than 250,000 mail-in ballots still under review as of Friday evening.
Justice Bill Montgomery, serving as duty judge for the seven-member court, provided clear reasoning for the denial. The court found no evidence suggesting voters were denied reasonable opportunities to cure their ballots. Additionally, none of the eight counties involved in the dispute had requested more time.
The ruling comes as Lake, a strong ally of Donald Trump, faces a challenging path to victory. Her campaign's performance has drawn particular attention following Trump's recent victory over Kamala Harris in Arizona, where he secured 11 electoral college votes, contributing to his total of 312 against Harris' 226.
Lake's campaign continues to actively engage in the ballot curing process despite the court's decision. On Sunday, her campaign team shared information about ballot curing assistance through social media, demonstrating their commitment to maximizing every possible vote.
Gallego has maintained a notably reserved presence during the vote-counting process. His campaign's measured approach was reflected in his Wednesday social media post, where he stated:
We are closely watching as the results come in, and we're feeling very optimistic. This team has worked tirelessly to connect with Arizonans across the state, and I'm proud of the campaign we've run.
The Democratic candidate's restraint comes as multiple organizations, including election data group Decision Desk HQ, have already called the race in his favor. However, The Associated Press has yet to make an official call, and Lake has not conceded the race.
The Arizona Senate race outcome carries significant implications for national politics. Republicans are approaching a House majority, which would give them complete control of Congress following their success in securing both the presidency and the Senate.
Current House standings show Republicans with 213 seats compared to Democrats' 203, with 19 races remaining undecided. The path to majority requires Republicans to win just five of these contested races, while Democrats face the steeper challenge of securing 15 victories.
This race also reflects broader patterns in Arizona's political landscape. The state's voting history shows interesting trends, particularly in how Trump supporters have voted in recent elections. In 2016, Republican Senator John McCain won re-election alongside Trump's victory in the state. However, 2020 saw both Trump and Senator Martha McSally, an appointed Trump supporter who filled McCain's seat after his death, lose their respective races.
As vote counting continues in Arizona, both campaigns remain actively engaged in the process. The Supreme Court's decision significantly impacts the timeline for finalizing results, particularly affecting voters whose mail-in ballots may have signature verification issues. The ongoing Senate race exemplifies Arizona's evolution as a battleground state, where narrow margins and complex voting dynamics continue to shape electoral outcomes. With thousands of votes still being tallied and the national political balance potentially hanging in the balance, Arizona's electoral process remains under intense scrutiny.
