Staff Reports
In the race for Senate in Arizona, former gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake is maintaining a strong lead in the Republican primary. A recent poll from Emerson College shows Lake with a 31-point lead over her nearest competitor, Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb. Lake is a fiery conservative who has captured the support of many voters, receiving 42% of the vote compared to Lamb’s 11%. This is an impressive lead considering Lake hasn’t even launched her campaign yet.
Republican Kari Lake Trails Rising Democrat in New 2024 Arizona Senate Poll #NewsBreak https://t.co/TnSkxPWSoE
— Lynne A Shapiro (@LynneAShapiro) August 4, 2023
But there’s a twist – Lake may have her sights set on a different position altogether. There have been rumors that she could be considering running as vice president alongside former President Donald Trump if he becomes the GOP nominee in 2024. Lake is a staunch supporter of Trump and could be a favorable choice for him as a running mate. This adds an interesting dynamic to the race, as Lake could potentially choose a different path even with her current lead in the Senate primary.
2024 Arizona Senate GOP Primary
• Kari Lake — 42% (+31)
• Mark Lamb — 11%
• Blake Masters — 7%
• Jim Lamon — 2%
• Brian Wright — 2%
• Undecided — 28%Emerson (A-) | RVs | 08/02-04https://t.co/PhUaatTnxX
— InteractivePolls (@IAPolls2022) August 8, 2023
Lake’s loss in the 2022 gubernatorial election has not deterred her from pushing claims of election fraud, much like Trump did in 2020. Despite the Maricopa County Superior Court affirming that there was no election fraud in Arizona’s gubernatorial race, Lake continues to push these claims. This aligns her with Trump, which strengthens her bond with his base of supporters.
While Lake has gained popular support among Trump voters, it is likely that many established Republicans will oppose her as Trump’s running mate. The party is looking to appeal to moderate and independent voters in 2024, and Lake’s controversial stance on election fraud may not resonate well with these groups. Republicans fear a repeat of the 2022 elections, where Trump-endorsed candidates lost to Democrats, resulting in a less-than-expected performance by Republicans.
In the Senate race, Lake’s primary opponent, Karrin Taylor Robson, announced that she will not be running, making Lake the party’s front-runner. However, her lead in the polls over Lamb may not make a significant difference. In a head-to-head matchup against Lamb, Rep. Ruben Gallego, and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, the poll shows 36% support for Gallego, 29% for Lamb, and 21% for Sinema, with 15% undecided. But interestingly, 57% of Trump 2020 voters support Lamb. If Trump secures the GOP nomination and Lake becomes his running mate, it could give Lamb the boost he needs to defeat Sinema and Gallego.
Overall, the race for Senate in Arizona is shaping up to be a battle with multiple paths for Kari Lake. Will she continue her strong lead in the Republican primary? Or will she take a different route and join Trump as his vice presidential candidate? Only time will tell, but one thing is clear – Lake’s candidacy is causing quite a stir in the conservative landscape.
