Top Points:
Kari Lake Wins GOP Nomination: Kari Lake secured the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate in Arizona, setting up a critical contest against Democrat Rep. Ruben Gallego for a seat that could decide Senate control.
Strong Support from Trump: Former President Donald Trump actively supported Lake, urging voters to back her in the primary. Lake's strong alignment with Trump's "Make America Great Again" movement has bolstered her popularity among grassroots Republicans.
Fundraising and Political Profile: Lake's transition from a news anchor to a rising GOP star, coupled with her impressive fundraising ability—raising $10.3 million compared to her opponent's $2 million—has solidified her as a formidable candidate in the race.
Full Report:
Kari Lake has clinched the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate in Arizona, positioning herself for a high-stakes showdown with Democrat Rep. Ruben Gallego. This seat is crucial for determining control of the Senate.
Newsmax, in collaboration with Decision Desk HQ, announced Lake's victory approximately an hour after polls closed. With 62% of the votes counted, Lake led with 53.3%, outpacing Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, who garnered 40.7%. The third candidate, Elizabeth Reye, secured 6.1%. On the Democrat side, Gallego ran unopposed.
The winner of this contest will replace Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, who left the Democratic Party to become an independent following a decline in support from her base. Sinema had considered an independent run but ultimately decided against it.
Former President Donald Trump rallied behind Lake in a telephone call on Monday night, urging supporters to vote. "Go vote," Trump said. "She's fantastic. She will not let us down. Kari Lake, I just think she's going to be as good as you can get. There's nobody going to be better."
Lake's announcement to run for the Senate seat cleared the field of potential Republican contenders. Her national profile, bolstered by her involvement in Trump's "Make America Great Again" movement and her 2022 gubernatorial bid, made her a formidable candidate. Lamb argued he was the more electable candidate with a stronger stance on border security, but he struggled to match Lake's fundraising prowess, raising only $2 million compared to Lake's $10.3 million by the end of June.
Lake transitioned from her role as a news anchor at Phoenix's Fox affiliate to a rising star in the GOP. Her sharp critiques of the media, firm border security stance, and unwavering support for Trump endeared her to grassroots Republicans. Trump even considered her as a potential running mate.
During the Monday night rally, Lake expressed her eagerness to support Trump in Washington. "We're looking forward to getting you back in Washington, D.C.," Lake said. "And I'm looking forward to helping back you up and make sure that we get this country turned back around."
Lake previously won the Republican primary for Arizona governor in 2022, defeating an establishment-backed opponent but narrowly lost the general election to Democrat Katie Hobbs by 17,117 votes.
Original Story by The Associated Press, Newsmax