Arizona’s Competitive Congressional Races and the 6th C

The race between Ruben Gallego and Kari Lake for Arizona’s U.S. Senate seat is among the more competitive races in the country. Races in the state’s 1st and 6th Congressional Districts are also toss-ups. Winning Congressional candidates will have a say in the country’s broadband future. Arizona has a unique set of broadband access and adoption challenges. Representative Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) has a record on broadband access and affordability issues. During his House tenure he has been involved in a number of broadband efforts. Kari Lake’s positions on broadband and digital equity are not well-defined. Perhaps her most notable statement on broadband access was in response to a tweet from Rep. Gallego’s account, which highlighted the need for universal broadband access. In her response, Lake cited a Washington Times article that criticizes the BEAD program for its perceived lengthy timeline and inclusion of climate resiliency standards and “DEI mandates.”