Kari Lake’s campaign says it’s a new day in Arizona politics after the candidate was declared the victor in her primary race for the governor’s office.
“It’s morning again in Arizona,” Lake Chief Strategist Billy Grant told The Arizona Sun Times Thursday. “Kari is totally focused on uniting this party and defeating Katie Hobbs.”
After an arduous two days of vote counting, Lake was declared the winner by a margin of 46.8 percent to opponent Karrin Taylor Robson’s 44 percent.
“Though the results took longer than they should have, Arizonans who have been forgotten by the establishment just delivered a political earthquake,” Lake said in statement after officially being declared the winner. “My opponent Katie Hobbs had one job in government, and that was to ensure an efficiently-processed election. She failed spectacularly, and yet just like every other failed establishment politician, she now wants a promotion. Arizona just sent a clear message: our state is done with failed politicians like Katie Hobbs.”
“This is more than an election – it is a beautiful movement by so many people across our beautiful state to finally put America First,” Lake said. “Our renewed Republican Party is now coming together to fight for a brighter and more prosperous future for every Arizonan.”
In a statement of her own, Robson conceded the race.
“The voters of Arizona have spoken, I accept the process, I trust the people who administer it,” she said.
Robson did not specifically offer an endorsement to Lake.
The Lake campaign was confident all week that it would secure the primary victory.
Her campaign declared victory Wednesday and Thursday before the race results were officially announced.
“We knew early in the night, despite a 9.8% deficit, that Kari Lake would be the Republican nominee,” Grant told The Sun Times Wednesday. “It’s time to unite Arizona and bring the Republican Party together to defeat Katie Hobbs in November.”
Thursday, Lake’s campaign said it knew she would win the race.
“We are confident that the outstanding votes left to be counted will favor [Lake]. We know what the outcome is,” the Kari Lake War Room said.
We are confident that the outstanding votes left to be counted will favor @KariLake
We know what the outcome is.@KariLake is the @AZGOP nominee for Governor.
Why is the #FakeNews media afraid to call the race?
Some of them seemed very eager to call Arizona back in 2020.
— Kari Lake War Room (@KariLakeWarRoom) August 3, 2022
Lake will now battle Democrat Secretary of State Katie Hobbs in the general election.
_ _ _
Pete D’Abrosca is a reporter at The Arizona Sun Times and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Arizona Republican Candidates” by Kari Lake.
