Gallego: Dem Senators ‘Have Encouraged Me to Run’ Against Defector Sinema

Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) told CBS News on Wednesday that some Democrat senators are privately telling him to run against recent defector Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), who became an independent last week.

Gallego said, “There have been some senators that have encouraged me to run. I wouldn’t say better run, but there are some senators, some of Sen. Sinema’s colleagues, that are encouraging me to run. A lot of House members want me to run.”

Asked if he would speak with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer before making a decision, Gallego replied, “Probably not. He will not determine my future. Again, it’s the people of Arizona and my family. He is not in a position even to make decisions. He has to balance the needs of the caucus first. And by the time they figure out what they, how they’re going to balance Sinema still being there and me running for office, it’s going to be too late. So, once I make my decision, I’ll go, and then we’ll talk to him at some point if he wants to.”

If he does run, Gallego will find that the independent thinker Sinema has much more voter support than another radical leftist like himself.