Former Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake officially launched her campaign for senator on Tuesday.
Speaking in front of a crowd in Scottsdale, Lake vowed to dethrone independent incumbent Kyrsten Sinema and expressed her support for former President Donald Trump.
“I am not going to retreat. I’m going to stand on top of this hill with every single one of you. And I know you’re on my side as I formally announce my candidacy for the United States Senate,” she said to thunderous applause.
“The only way to fix our problems is with America First policies. President Trump showed us how to do it. Remember four years ago we had $2 a gallon gas. The border was secure, inflation was non-existent, the economy worked for every American. We were thriving and then Joe Biden stumbles into the White House and he sent us on the kamikaze mission to total destruction,” Lake continued.
The former television anchor turned conservative firebrand will face off with Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, the only other major candidate in the race for the Republican nomination, and the winner will likely face Democratic State Rep. Ruben Gallego, who is currently seen as the front-runner for his party’s nomination.
Following Lake’s announcement, Lamb said he was the “only one proven conservative winner” running for Senate in the state.
“I am a lifelong conservative who has dedicated my life to protecting Arizonans and keeping them safe when Democrat policies make that job almost impossible. I have been in Arizona fighting for the people that call this great state home. I’m not a talker, I’m a doer, and I win elections. That is what separates me from my opponents,” the sheriff said in a statement.
Gallego’s campaign, meanwhile, said that voters would reject her “again,” referencing her loss to current Democrat Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs during last year’s midterm elections.
“Arizonans — including a significant chunk of Republicans — already rejected Kari Lake once because of her dangerous plans to ban abortion and undermine our democracy. Her extremism should disqualify her from public office — and it will. Again,” Gallego campaign spokesperson Hanna Goss told reporters.
