Kari Lake Surges Ahead of Mark Lamb in Race for GOP U.S. Senate Nomination

Kari Lake emerged as the frontrunner against Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb in the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate, according to unofficial results released by the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office on election night.

With approximately 900,000 ballots counted statewide, Lake leads Lamb by nearly 13 percentage points. The victor will contest Democratic Congressman Ruben Gallego in the general election set for November 5.

Lake, a former Phoenix news anchor, ventured into politics in 2021 by running for Arizona governor, securing the endorsement of former President Donald Trump. Despite losing to Democrat Katie Hobbs, she has continually disputed the election results, alleging fraud and unsuccessfully challenging the outcome in court.

In October 2023, Lake announced her Senate bid while continuing to appeal her losses. Her legal battles have seen her attorneys sanctioned by the Arizona Supreme Court for misrepresentation, resulting in one attorney facing a 60-day suspension.

Additionally, Lake is embroiled in a defamation suit filed by Republican Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer, whom she falsely accused of sabotaging the 2022 election. Lake has conceded that her statements were false, and the court is currently determining damages.

Lamb, who has focused his campaign on border security, was elected Pinal County Sheriff in 2017 and prides himself on battling criminal cartels. Notably, Pinal County does not border Mexico. Before his law enforcement career, Lamb operated a pest control business.

Lamb’s campaign underscored themes of God, family, and freedom, with a promise to oppose what he terms the “woke left.” Despite trailing Lake significantly in polls, he has managed to spotlight these issues prominently.

Notably, Lake declined to debate Lamb last month. This decision contrasts with her previous criticism of Hobbs during the 2022 election, where she derided Hobbs for refusing to engage in a debate.