Kari Lake may have won the primary, but now the real battle begins

Lake presented an oppo file on Gallego, labeling him extreme and highlighting his Chicago origins.

PUBLISHED JUL 31, 2024

Lake's campaign has faced scrutiny due to her legal challenges regarding the 2022 gubernatorial election

Phoenix, Arizona: Kari Lake has won the Arizona Republican Senate primary, defeating Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb and Elizabeth Reye.

Lake was the favorite in the primary, leading significantly in most polls. Her victory sets up a general election contest against Democrat Rep. Ruben Gallego, who ran unopposed in his primary. In her victory speech, Lake emphasized unity beyond party lines, appealing to Trump Republicans, traditional Republicans, and "disaffected Democrats".

The Epoch Times reported that during her speech, Lake presented an opposition research file on Gallego, labeling him as extreme and highlighting his Chicago origins. Lake secured 53.3% of the vote, carrying all but two counties, while Lamb received 40.7% and Reye 6.1%. Both candidates are vying to replace Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, who is not seeking re-election after leaving the Democratic Party post-2022 midterms.

Lake's vision extends beyond Arizona, aiming to bring together Republicans, independents, and disaffected Democrats to collectively rebuild the nation.

Lake's campaign has faced scrutiny due to her legal challenges regarding the 2022 gubernatorial election, where she contested her loss to Governor Katie Hobbs. She has received endorsements from Trump and the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

The Epoch Times also reported that, Gallego, leading in polls and fundraising, criticized Lake's hesitation to commit to a general election debate organized by the Arizona Clean Debates Commission, citing concerns from her 2022 campaign experience. Lake indicated her campaign would consider alternative debate arrangements with Gallego.

Arizona's Senate races have historically garnered national attention, with past senators like John McCain and Barry Goldwater playing significant roles in national politics. Here's a list of some famous Arizona senators:

Barry Goldwater: A five-term Senator (1953–1965, 1969–1987), Goldwater was a key figure in the conservative movement and the Republican presidential nominee in 1964.

John McCain: Serving from 1987 until his death in 2018, McCain was a two-time presidential candidate (2000, 2008) and the Republican nominee in 2008. He was known for his work on military and foreign policy issues, as well as his reputation as a "maverick" willing to cross party lines.

Mark Kelly and Gabrielle Giffords speaking at an event in Phoenix, Arizona, 2016.

Carl Hayden: One of the longest-serving members of Congress, Hayden served in the Senate from 1927 to 1969. He was influential in water policy, particularly the Central Arizona Project, which brought Colorado River water to Arizona.

Dennis DeConcini: A Democrat who served from 1977 to 1995, DeConcini was known for his work on judicial and intelligence issues, including his involvement in the Iran-Contra affair investigations.

Mark Kelly: A former astronaut and husband of former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, Kelly has been serving as a Senator since 2020. He focuses on issues such as gun control and veterans' affairs.