Another of former President Donald Trump’s endorsements appears to have paid off.
Former Phoenix-area newscaster Kari Lake, whom Trump backed earlier this year in a GOP primary race to hopefully succeed Republican Gov. Doug Ducey, has been declared the winner days after Tuesday’s contest, according to multiple reports.
The Daily Wire reports:
Multiple outlets called the race Thursday evening after a late surge for Lake in Maricopa County, putting her ahead in every county in the state. The New York Times gave Lake the victory with an estimated 88% of the ballots tallied. Lake had nearly 47%. Her closest competitor, Karrin Taylor Robson, won 44% at the time the race was called.
Lake will face Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, the Democratic nominee, in the general election.
“Though the results took longer than they should have, Arizonans who have been forgotten by the establishment just delivered a political earthquake. My opponent Katie Hobbs had just one job in government, and that was to ensure an efficiently processed election. She failed spectacularly,” Lake said in a statement. “Arizona just sent a clear message: our state is done with failed politicians like Katie Hobbs.”
Lake left her TV news anchor job in 2020 after decades in the industry, citing “obvious bias” and the “liberal ideology” of the mainstream media. She also used to be a vocal critic of Trump but has since come around, supporting him in his 2020 contest against President Joe Biden.
She also campaigned on investigating and fixing the “corrupt and stolen” 2020 election, a message that very likely caught the former president’s early on since he endorsed her last year, the Daily Wire noted.
We officially won every single county in Arizona. Clean sweep of the State.
This isn’t MY win.
This is OUR win.Thank you, Arizona. ♥️
— Kari Lake for AZ Governor (@KariLake) August 5, 2022
“Lake won in a race that became a proxy battle of influence between Trump and his former vice president, Mike Pence,” The Daily Wire noted. “Both Trump and Pence are reportedly considering 2024 presidential bids. Pence and Arizona Governor Doug Ducey endorsed Robson, who trailed essentially the entire race. An average of polls compiled by RealClearPolitics placed Robson over nine points behind Lake before voting ended Tuesday evening.”
Meanwhile, Lake’s Lake’s campaign website reveals that she has been endorsed by several top MAGA Republicans, including, of course, Trump.
“She is STRONG on CRIME, Will PROTECT our BORDER, 2ND AMENDMENT, MILITARY, VETS, and will FIGHT to RESTORE ELECTION INTEGRITY.” — PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP
“Her opponents won’t even show up to debate her and she is the Trump MAGA candidate in Arizona.” — PETER NAVARRO
“Kari Lake is a STRONG WOMAN and will truly be a GOVERNOR for the PEOPLE of ARIZONA. She Doesn’t owe any favors to the political class or any special interests.” — GENERAL MICHAEL FLYNN
“Please ELECT this WOMAN if you still Believe in FREEDOM and LIBERTY in ARIZONA.” — DONALD TRUMP JR
“She is a CONSERVATIVE, freedom fighter, wants to make sure we SECURE the southern border, and to carryout President Trump’s America First Agenda…” — SENATOR MARSHA BLACKBURN
“After thoroughly reviewing Kari Lake’s newly released strategy, I fully endorse her BOLD plan to finish President Trump’s wall and SECURE Arizona’s border…” — BRANDON JUDD
“I am proud to endorse Kari Lake to be our next Governor. Arizona is at a crossroads and the state needs a governor who will work with the people, and for the people, and not just special interests.” — U.S. CONGRESSMAN PAUL GOSAR
“We need more America First Patriots to stand up to the Fake News & the RINOs & not move an inch. Kari Lake is exactly the type of warrior I’m talking about… No one loves Arizona more than Kari Lake.” — MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE
