Rep. Ruben Galego (D AZ) hurled some sharp words towards Sen. Kyrsten Sinesma (I AZ) on February 2, ramping up the attacks against the former Democrat as she considers a re-election bid for the Senate in the year 2024.

Gallego said that Sinema had the right to choose to finish last in a three-way race, which is expected if she decides to run for another term.

Gallego may be right, but a Sinema defeat wouldn’t mark the first time a sitting senator finished last in a race with three candidates. In 1970, the New York Senate race featured three candidates. The incumbent Republican Charles Goodell lost to Democrat Richard Ottinger, and James Buckley was elected by the Conservative Independent Alliance Party.

Gallego challenged Sinema to a race in January. This set the stage for a highly competitive race in this crucial battleground. Sinema is yet to announce whether or not she will run for reelection. If she does, then she will face both political parties.

Gallego, who has raised $3.7 million more than Sinema during the cycle of 2024, reported a total of $2.1 million for the first quarter. Sinema has a larger war chest, with $2.7 million in cash compared to Gallego’s almost $10 million.

Although the GOP primary field is still forming, it is expected that Kari Lake, who failed to win the gubernatorial race in Arizona, could run for Senate in coming months. She would be facing Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb who announced his candidacy this month.

Gallego is the clear frontrunner for the Senate race in 2024, beating Sinema and the other GOP candidates in early polling. Gallego is the front-runner in any three way race involving him, Sinema and a Republican according to a survey by OH Predictive Insights conducted in February.

In the election cycle of 2024, there are 34 Senate seats at stake. Democrats have to defend 23 of these seats, while Republicans only need to defend 11. This puts Republicans in an excellent position to flip some key Senate seats, which could easily change the current power balance in the upper chamber.

Cook Political Report has rated the Arizona Senate race as a “toss up”. This is one of the most competitive elections so far.