Kari Lake, a former newscaster from Phoenix, has announced her candidacy for the U.S. Senate. Her campaign reported on Monday that it has raised $2.1 million in the first quarter since filing. According to Politico, Lake, who is also a candidate for the 2022 Arizona GOP gubernatorial race, has managed to pull in the funds after launching her campaign on October 10.
“Her fundraising total includes the period from mid-October to Dec. 31. Her cash-on-hand amount was not immediately available,” the outlet noted further.
Lake is running for the seat of former Democrat Kyrsten Sinema, who has yet to announce her reelection plans. The top Democratic contender is Rep. Reuben Gallego.
“Kari Lake is outworking everyone, posting a very strong fundraising haul for her first quarter in the race. Arizona is the best pick-up opportunity for Senate Republicans,” Garrett Ventry, a Lake senior adviser, said in a statement.
Politico added: “Lake attempted to pivot in 2023, currying favor with GOP leaders and attempting a détente with allies of the late Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) whom she antagonized. The National Republican Senatorial Committee has not yet endorsed in the primary but is working closely with Lake’s team. Steve Daines (R-Mont.), the Senate campaign chief, texts frequently with Lake about the race, according to a person familiar with their interactions.”
“Kari Lake has strong grassroots support that is translating to fundraising success,” Daines said in a statement.
Politico added: “Gallego, meanwhile, announced raising $3.3 million in the last quarter of the year — his fourth consecutive quarter raising more than $3 million. He ended the year with $6.5 million in the bank.”
The article reports that Sinema’s campaign fundraising has slowed down considerably, but she still has $10 million in her bank account at the end of the third quarter. Although Lake has not received an official endorsement from the National Republican Senatorial Committee, the committee is working closely with her campaign, according to Politico.
Lake has been endorsed by former President Donald Trump, as well as Senators John Barrasso of Wyoming and Tom Cotton of Arkansas. Additionally, House GOP Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik of New York has expressed her support for Lake’s candidacy.
“Kari Lake is the fighter Arizona needs to secure the border, unleash American Energy Independence, and lower the cost of living. Joe Biden’s policies have been a disaster for Arizona, and Kari Lake will stand up to the Biden agenda and put Arizonans first. Let’s send Kari to the Senate and take back the majority,” Cotton told Fox News Digital in a statement.
“I am grateful for the endorsement of Sen. Cotton, someone who served our country honorably in the military and has been a conservative warrior in the Senate. I look forward to working with Sen. Cotton to secure our border and get America back on track from Joe Biden and Chuck Schumer’s far-left agenda,” Lake told the outlet.
“Joe Biden’s policies have crushed Arizona. Arizonans are dealing with record inflation – up 20 percent under the Biden administration. Arizona is also on the front lines of the worst illegal immigration crisis in American history. Nearly 8 million illegal immigrants under Biden, equal to the population of Arizona,” Barrasso said in a statement, per Fox News in an October report. “The U.S. Senate needs a Senator from Arizona that understands these issues, and will fight hard to solve them.”
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