Republican Kari Lake formally launched her campaign for the U.S. Senate, telling a crowd of supporters in Scottsdale that she was destined for more after her 2022 loss in Arizona’s gubernatorial election.
That’s a race that Lake has yet to concede. In fact, she’s spent the months since her loss to Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs trying, and repeatedly failing, to challenge her loss in court.
On Tuesday night, Lake made only passing mention of her loss — she called the 2022 election a “disaster.”
“I’ve been talking to God about this,” Lake said. “I said, ‘Why God?’ I think God has bigger plans for us.”
Lake enters what could be a rare, three-way general election contest — the seat she’s running for is currently held by Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, a former Democrat turned independent. Sinema has not yet announced whether she’ll seek reelection.
Rep. Ruben Gallego is the only major candidate seeking the Democratic nomination.
As for earning the Republican nomination, Lake will be challenged by Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, who entered the U.S. Senate race months ago. Yet Lake is widely considered the front-runner, a status backed up by a key endorsement: Donald Trump.
In a video message played during her campaign’s first rally, Trump praised Lake, a loyal supporter of the former president and his lies about the 2020 election.
“She is very special,” Trump said of Lake. “With people like Kari fighting for Arizona in the Senate and with me back in the White House, we will make America great again.”
For more on the return of Kari Lake, The Show spoke to Hank Stephenson of Arizona Agenda.
