New polling in Arizona’s hotly contested U.S. Senate race is revealing a potential breakthrough for conservative stalwart Kari Lake, who had been trailing for months.
Lake, who sought the governorship in 2022 backed by former President Donald Trump, now edges ahead of her probable Democratic opponent, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), by two percentage points, per an analysis from The Hill. Initially, polls favored Gallego, yet Lake has persistently criticized his support for President Joe Biden’s immigration policies, blaming them for a surge in migration across Arizona’s southern border.
Recall, the state favored Trump by 3.5% in 2016 before narrowly flipping to Biden by a margin of 0.3% in 2020. Pollsters consider factors such as partisan alignment and incumbency, which now suggest Arizonans’ frustration with migration issues and the rising cost of living is overshadowing Gallego’s incumbency advantage.
Lake started her campaign in February and had consistently lagged by about 5% behind Gallego in successive polls. However, recent polls show her closing the gap, with the latest showing both candidates tied at 47% following President Biden’s poorly received debate performance.
Lake is carefully balancing her staunch MAGA affiliations while adapting her message for the 2024 electorate. After her 2022 loss to now-Governor Katie Hobbs, Lake contested the results with several legal challenges, all dismissed. Recently, she sparked controversy by suggesting Arizonans should “strap on a Glock” for the upcoming November elections, a comment U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ), husband of the tragically wounded former congresswoman Gabby Giffords, condemned.
Now, Lake is focusing on core issues like governmental dysfunction, soaring inflation, and housing shortages in the southwest. She’s boosted by numerous high-profile endorsements as the Republican primary approaches on July 30th, including support from 23 of the U.S. Senate’s 49 Republicans. In April, she set a fundraising record at Mar-a-Lago, hosted by President Trump, amassing over $1 million.
Adding to her campaign momentum, a recent fundraiser in the Washington, D.C. area organized by the Republican National Committee brought in an additional $350,000 for Lake, following her endorsement from GOP Senate fundraising leader Steve Daines, as reported by POLITICO.
Late last year, Lake made headlines when the former Arizona GOP chair urged her to step aside for a more moderate candidate, promising political favors from powerful Eastern interests. She refused, later recounting to Glenn Beck her disgust and celebrating the chair’s resignation after his failed coercion attempt.
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