Arizona’s Republican gubernatorial nominee announced Wednesday that she has received an endorsement from yet another law enforcement organization.
“I have been endorsed by the Maricopa County Deputies Law Enforcement Officer Association The McDLEA seeks to ‘promote the positive role of the law enforcement profession’ throughout the county. Our law enforcement officers will have my full support & I’m honored to have theirs,” Lake said on Twitter.
I have been endorsed by the Maricopa County Deputies Law Enforcement Officer Association
The McDLEA seeks to "promote the positive role of the law enforcement profession" throughout the county.
Our law enforcement officers will have my full support & I'm honored to have theirs. pic.twitter.com/cHDs8GRsEM
— Kari Lake (@KariLake) September 14, 2022
Maricopa County DLEA’s mission is “to promote the positive role of the law enforcement profession … and … to protect and secure members’ rights and benefits through effective representation and professional relationships with the community and local, state, and national governments.”
During her campaign, Lake has dueled with her opponent, Democrat Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, over who is the better candidate for law enforcement.
But Hobbs has notoriously accepted the endorsement of Planned Parenthood, which requires candidates to refuse money and support from law enforcement in order to obtain its endorsement.
She has also been endorsed by the National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL), which supports defunding the police.
“NARAL Pro-Choice America supports the demands of the Movement for Black Lives, including defunding the police and investing in Black communities, which are a response to hundreds of years of systemic oppression and the failure of reforms to address urgent needs and injustices,” that group says in its literature. “Budgets reflect our priorities. As such, the call to defund the police is also a call for investment in Black communities — in urgent needs that are currently underfunded, like access to healthcare, education, social services, and more. Through this investment, we can work to make sure every person, every parent, and every family is able to thrive.”
In an attempt to combat attacks over her lack of support of law enforcement and border security, Hobbs released an ad in which she highlighted endorsements from two Democrat sheriffs, and said she supported law enforcement and border security.
“We need less talk and more action when it comes to securing the border,” she said at the time. “My highest priority is keeping Arizona communities safe which is why law enforcement like Sheriff Hathaway and Sheriff Nanos are backing my campaign.”
But she was quickly rebuked by the Lake campaign, the GOP and others.
“This statement is absurd implying that the border was secure to begin with. On top of that, Katie cannot expect the people of Arizona to forget her atrocious record when it comes to border security,” said Arizona Republican Party Political Director Jeremiah Cota. “She has actively worked against securing Arizona’s border her entire career. We view Hobbs’ and her team’s attempt to trick an entire state into forgetting her anti-border security history as an insult to the intelligence of Arizonans.”
Hobbs was also slammed by Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb after the ad’s release.
“Katie Hobbs has openly opposed filling the border wall gaps and supported ending Title 42, which makes our jobs harder and puts us in the line of fire,” Lamb said. “We cannot afford a governor who will do nothing to stop the unprecedented human trafficking and drug trafficking at our southern border.”
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Pete D’Abrosca is a reporter at The Arizona Sun Times and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Kari Lake” by Kari Lake. Background Photo “Arizona Capitol” by Wars. CC BY-SA 3.0.
