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OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.
Former 2022 Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake has gotten another big boost in her bid to unseat Sen. Kyrsten Sinema in November.
Lake on Friday was endorsed by another conservative stalwart, Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), the Arizona Sun-Times reported.
“I’m honored to endorse my friend Kari Lake to be Arizona’s next U.S. Senator. Kari is a strong, principled conservative, who knows and loves the people of Arizona and will make them proud as their elected representative,” he said in a statement.
“Kari is fearless, she doesn’t back down, and she will fight tirelessly to secure our border and make our country safe and prosperous. The stakes could not be higher and it is now more important than ever that we retake the Republican majority and get our country back on the right track for all working American families and citizens,” he added.
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Lake responded favorably to the endorsement.
“I am thrilled to have the endorsement of a conservative force in the Senate, my friend Bill Hagerty,” she said. “He has been a strong voice for securing our border and advocating for America First policies. I look forward to working with him to put America back on track.”
Lake’s campaign announced on Monday that she had raised millions in the first quarter following her filing.
According to the campaign, the 2022 Arizona GOP gubernatorial candidate has pulled in $2.1 million after launching her campaign on Oct. 10. Lake is running for former Democrat-turned-Independent Kyrsten Sinema’s seat, the latter of whom has yet to announce whether she’ll run for reelection. 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.”
Meanwhile, Sinema’s fundraising essentially slowed to a trickle, but she had $10 million in the bank at the end of the third quarter. The National Republican Senatorial Committee has not formally endorsed Lake, but Politico noted that the group is collaborating closely with her campaign.
Sens. John Barrasso of Wyoming and Tom Cotton of Arkansas, as well as former President Donald Trump, have all endorsed her. Also, House GOP Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik of New York has voiced 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.”
In a statement to the outlet, Lake said she was “honored by the friendship and endorsement.”
