Staff Reports
Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake is on a mission to win over centrist Republicans, despite her unapologetic support for former President Donald Trump’s election fraud claims. Narrowly losing her bid for governor to Democrat Katie Hobbs last year, Lake continues to challenge her own loss as she gears up for the 2024 Arizona Senate race.
.@KariLake struggles to soften MAGA edges despite courting Arizona centrists https://t.co/pceRe38AUk https://t.co/pceRe38AUk
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) December 21, 2023
Positioning herself as a conservative who can broaden her appeal beyond Trump loyalists, Lake aims to attract the John McCain wing of the Republican Party and even court soft Democratic voters. However, Lake faces a tough primary battle against Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, and then potentially a three-way race with progressive Rep. Ruben Gallego as the likely Democratic nominee and Senator Kyrsten Sinema, who left the Democratic Party last year.
Despite her outreach efforts, many centrist Republicans in the state remain skeptical, especially after Lake was spotted at a campaign event with Jenna Ryan, who was imprisoned for participating in the January 6 Capitol attack. Lake’s defense of the riot participants and her continued focus on the 2020 election results have raised concerns among some national Republicans.
While Lake’s campaign emphasizes her focus on issues like the border, the economy, and inflation, some Arizona centrists doubt her ability to appeal to a broader audience. Lake’s history of confrontational politics, including attacking the late Senator John McCain and calling for the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, has left doubt in the minds of many undecided voters in the state.
Despite her attempts to mend fences with former political rivals, some critics remain unconvinced of Lake’s sincerity. Her recent meeting with former primary opponent Karrin Taylor Robson did not lead to an endorsement, and a meeting with Kathy Petsas, a former Republican official personally attacked by Lake’s campaign, was reportedly lacking in substance.
While Lake has gained endorsements from Republican senators and conservative figures, including Senators John Barrasso and Tom Cotton, her candidacy has not received full-throated support from national Republicans. The National Republican Senatorial Committee has acknowledged Lake’s efforts to hold far-left Democrats accountable but has remained noncommittal about endorsing her.
As Lake seeks to position herself as a viable candidate for the 2024 Senate race, her challenge lies in convincing voters, especially centrist Republicans and independents, of her ability to represent their interests and concerns.
