Kari Lake Declares No 2026 Governor Bid

Former gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake announced she will not seek election for governor in 2026. This declaration came during a recent event at AMFEST, where she responded to a question about her political future.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Lake stated, “The answer is no,” referring to a question about a possible gubernatorial run. She shifted focus, indicating her intent to support President Trump in his initiatives by potentially leading Voice of America (VOA).

Lake noted her commitment to “sharing America’s story with the world” through this role. Trump had previously suggested she would be his choice for the VOA directorship, a significant government-funded broadcasting organization aimed at informing international audiences.

However, the pathway to this position is complicated. The VOA director is appointed by the head of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, a role that itself requires congressional confirmation. Given the contentious nature of recent Trump nominations, Lake’s appointment could face scrutiny and opposition.

Lake, who built her reputation as a television news anchor over nearly three decades in Phoenix, left the broadcasting world in 2021 amid controversy over her social media remarks on COVID-19 and other issues. Joining the political arena, she mirrored Trump’s tough stance on immigration and frequently criticized mainstream media.

In her political career, Lake faced setbacks, losing the 2022 gubernatorial race to Democrat Katie Hobbs and subsequently failing to secure Senator Kyrsten Sinema’s seat in 2024 against Rep. Ruben Gallego. Despite her electoral defeats, Lake has maintained that she was a victim of election fraud, a claim she has yet to substantiate.

She has not publicly acknowledged her loss in the 2022 election, nor has she disputed the outcomes of the 2024 election. Recent efforts by Lake and other candidates to challenge election results have been dismissed by the Arizona Supreme Court.