Lake Slams Gallego, Sparks ‘Build the Wall’ Rallying Cry at RNC

In a charged appearance at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on Tuesday, Arizona U.S. Senate candidate Kari Lake reiterated familiar themes. Addressing a room filled with Republican politicians, candidates, and supporters, Lake excoriated the news media, calling for an end to the “indoctrination” of children in public schools and inciting chants of “build the wall.”

Lake, a former Phoenix news anchor, announced her Senate bid last October with rhetoric similar to her Tuesday speech. Backed by former President Donald Trump, she followed his lead in questioning the 2022 Arizona governor election results, which she lost to Democrat Katie Hobbs by over 17,000 votes. Since then, she has persistently pursued legal challenges to the 2022 election outcome, despite facing defeats at every judicial level in Arizona and sanctions against her legal team.

In a significant legal setback, one of her attorneys was recently suspended for 60 days for falsehoods in court filings. Moreover, Lake faces a defamation lawsuit from Republican Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer, who asserts that Lake falsely accused him of deliberately undermining the 2022 election.

Despite these ongoing legal battles, Lake avoided mentioning them in her speech. She also refrained from addressing her opponent in the upcoming Republican primary, Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, whom she leads substantially in polls. Lake has consistently declined debates with Lamb, criticizing Democratic opponent Katie Hobbs for similar actions during the last election cycle.

Instead, Lake zeroed in on presumed Democratic contender, U.S. Congressman Ruben Gallego, linking him to President Joe Biden’s unpopular policies. “Americans are waking up to the truth about disastrous Democrat policies,” said Lake, accusing Gallego and other Democrats of relinquishing control of Arizona’s border to drug cartels and attributing the state’s fentanyl crisis to their actions.

The crowd responded energetically to Lake’s pronouncements, especially her call to build a border wall, with Arizona Sen. Janae Shamp joining chants from the floor. Lake also claimed Gallego supported undocumented immigrants voting in elections, a charge his campaign swiftly denied, calling it a “blatant lie.” Gallego’s opposition to a recent Republican bill mandating voter ID for federal elections aimed to avoid disenfranchising specific voter groups.

Hannah Goss, spokesperson for Gallego’s campaign, criticized Lake’s statements, asserting she would “say anything to get power.” Lake’s indefinite stance on abortion further adds to the uncertainty about her policy positions if elected.

The Senate seat in contention was previously held by Kyrsten Sinema, a Democrat turned independent who chose not to seek reelection. Lake’s speech also included familiar anti-media rhetoric. “You guys up there in the fake news have worn out your welcome,” she said, accusing them of dishonesty about Trump and his supporters.

Despite her antagonistic stance towards the media, Lake concluded her address on an unifying note, echoing Trump’s slogans. “If we join together we will make America safe again and make America great again,” she declared, reinforcing the day’s theme at the RNC.