Democrat Rep. Gallego formally announces 2024 bid for Sinema's Arizona Senate seat

Arizona Democrat Rep. Ruben Gallego on Monday launched his 2024 Senate campaign, possibly setting up a challenge against incumbent independent Sen. Krysten Sinema. 

The announcement and the date was expected, with Gallego in recent weeks and months becoming increasingly critical of Sinema and her politics – including her failure to support Senate Democrats' effort to end the chamber's 60-vote filibuster that blocked passage of several of the party's signature spending bills, then switching her party affiliation to independent.

In a video posted to Twitter, Gallego talked about his childhood in poverty and his time serving in the Marines. 

Sinema, who register in December as an independent, has yet to confirm whether she will run for a second term. 

If Sinema runs, the race could be split between three candidates. 

In the video, post just after Sinema participated in the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Gallego criticized her for appearing to be more concerned about courting big money than helping Arizonians. 

"If you’re more likely to be meeting with the powerful than the powerless, you’re doing this job incorrectly," he said. "I'm sorry that politicians have let you down, but I’m gonna change that."