Kari Lake Opens Up on Ambitious Senate Aspirations

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Kari Lake delivered a stump speech and participated in a question-and-answer session at the American Legion Auxiliary Post No. 93 in Camp Verde on August 9. This event follows her victory over Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb in the GOP primary, where she secured a lead of 15.7 percentage points.

Lake is set to face U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-District 3) in the upcoming November elections, aiming to fill the seat vacated by U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.). During her address, Lake reflected on her ongoing legal battles following her 2022 gubernatorial defeat, stating, “I don’t know how we get this victory, if it comes in court, or we just go and swamp the damn vote so much that they can’t.” She emphasized her belief in the possibility of an overwhelming voter turnout.

Lake’s remarks also touched on perceived discrepancies in reported election statistics, questioning, “What are they going to try to tell us? [Vice President] Kamala [Harris] got 200 million votes?” Dubiously referencing her conversations with former President Donald Trump, she claimed, “80% of the country is with us.” Despite these assertions, various indicators show that support for Trump has ebbed even in historically Republican regions. In Yavapai County, he won 63.72% in 2020, despite never achieving a Gallup approval rating above 50% during his presidency.

Speaking to the Cottonwood Journal Extra, Lake addressed whether she would concede if she again faced defeat in November. She indicated her willingness to consider conceding only under a “fairly-run, legally-run election.” Her criticism extended to Vice President Harris, whom she labeled ineffective as the border czar, citing significant increases in illegal crossings during her tenure.

Lake dismissed recent polling data indicating her lag behind Gallego, asserting, “We just have to use that gut [feeling] that Trump is ahead.” While a HighGround poll suggests Gallego is up by 11 points, Lake claims her internal surveys show her in a favorable position.

In response to audience questions, Lake expressed her view that the Latino community’s values align more closely with Republican principles, suggesting media narratives hinder GOP outreach to this demographic. She also shared her stance on cryptocurrency, stating her openness to non-governmental, commodity-based options, while emphasizing the importance of maintaining the dollar’s value.

On energy policy, Lake advocated for reviving the Keystone XL pipeline, underscoring the U.S.’s ability to produce record oil levels. She criticized the regulatory environment imposed by Democrats, asserting that it negatively impacts housing development. To address workforce shortages in construction, Lake proposed a $5,000 grant incentive for high school graduates entering the field.

As part of her immigration policy, she expressed the need for greater consideration of American citizens, claiming that repatriation efforts would begin in January 2025. Lake also endorsed the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act, underscoring her commitment to ensuring Congress retains authority over significant economic policies that executive agencies implement.