Most Arizona voters are reasonably moderate, so I don’t sense a lot of enthusiasm for the presumptive nominees for Kyrsten Sinema’s U.S. Senate seat – far right Republican Kari Lake and far left Democrat Ruben Gallego.
Perhaps former Phoenix Suns star Charles Barkley should run. He’s outspoken, independent-minded, and always entertaining. Arizonans love him.
I could see him defeating Kari Lake and Mark Lamb in the Republican primary on July 30, or winning a three-way race as an Independent against Lake and Gallego in November.
Election 2024 would suddenly become a heck of a lot more interesting. And what a refreshing voice Charles Barkley would be in the U.S. Senate.
Come on, Charles, how about it?
Joe Smyth is the author of Fixing America’s Broken Politics. A former journalist, he’s now retired, and the opinions expressed here are his own. Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.
