Former news anchor and gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake filed Federal Election Commission (FEC) paperwork to run for U.S. Senate to represent Arizona in 2024 on October 3, with the filing coming only days after she announced a “Kari Lake Announcement Rally” in Phoenix on October 10.
Lake will be the second major Republican to declare their candidacy for the office, and will enter the race as an early favorite, with polling from August suggesting Lake will handily win the primary contest.
The polling showed Lake as the favorite among Arizona Republicans, with 42 percent throwing their support behind her. In a distant second place, Lamb garnered 11 percent of support. Former Senate candidate Blake Masters, who was rumored to be considering a second run for Senate but has not announced a campaign, received 7 percent of support.
Lake’s former primary rile, Karrin Taylor Robson, was also reported to be considering a campaign, but has opted not to run.
The popular Republican recently uploaded a video to X, formerly Twitter, that seemed to confirm her intention to run for Senate.
Stay tuned. pic.twitter.com/FKJYdMaowx
— Kari Lake (@KariLake) September 26, 2023
Should she secure the party’s nomination, Lake is likely to find herself in a three-way race between Democratic Representative Ruben Gallego (D-AZ-03) and U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ). However, polling that showed Lake dominating the primary field of opponents also shows a hypothetical reelection campaign from Sinema could capture enough Republican votes for Gallego to win.
Sinema, who left the Democratic Party last year but continues to caucus with Democrats and accept Democratic committee assignments, has not officially declared a senate campaign, but is expected to launch an independent bid to retain her seat. Last month, a donor strategy memo obtained by the media suggested Sinema plans to win reelection by courting independent and Republican votes, while conceding the majority of Democratic votes to Gallego.
Gallego made headlines after raising more than $3 million for his Senate campaign in one quarter, but may find his fundraising match in Lake, who reportedly raised over $2.5 million as she contested the 2022 election results.
Lake has consistently contested the 2022 election results, and has not conceded to Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs (D). Her most recent legal challenge to the election results happened on September 26, when Maricopa County Superior Court Judge John Hannah refused to allow Lake’s witnesses or exhibits to be considered.
The popular Republican was previously a news anchor at Fox 10 Phoenix, and has largely traveled the United States as a surrogate for former President Donald Trump and to push for election integrity while her 2022 election contests advanced through the court system.
Though many previously expected Lake to declare a campaign for Senate, she was reportedly considered a top contender to become vice presidential running mate of former President Donald Trump if he secures the Republican Party nomination in 2024.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Georgia Star News and a reporter for the Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Kari Lake” by Kari Lake.
Lake vs Lamb will be an interesting debate.