(The Center Square) – Following former TV Anchor Kari Lake’s primary win for U.S. senator, people are taking sides in preparation for her fight against Democratic nominee Ruben Gallego in the November general election.
Just last week, Democratic officials held two press conferences warning Tucson and Phoenix residents against voting for Kari Lake, claiming she would compromise their freedoms.
“As the official Republican nominee for the state of Arizona, Kari Lake is one step away from being a United States senator and that should alarm us all,” said 21st Legislative District Rep. Stephanie Stahl-Hamilton at the Aug. 1 press conference in Tucson.
Stahl-Hamilton stuck to abortion rights as a winning issue for Democrats.
"We are a state that strongly values freedom, compassion and the right to make our own healthcare decisions. We have to assure that Kari Lake is not elected to the U.S. Senate. This is not just about political differences, it is about protecting our rights and the lives of women across our state.”
Lake has spoken out in support of the 1864 abortion ban, saying she couldn’t “stop smiling,” when it was put into effect by the Arizona Supreme Court.
However, Lake’s campaign website says that she does not support a federal abortion ban and that abortion restrictions should be up to the individual states, recognizing the majority of Arizona voters support legal abortions with late-term restrictions.
“Kari’s focus will be on ensuring that young women facing the challenges of motherhood have all the support they need to choose life, including quality prenatal care, parenting classes, and financial support where necessary,” reads Lake’s campaign website. “Kari believes in making sure that women know they have a real choice and not be pushed into an abortion they may well later regret because, when they sought help, they weren’t given any other options. Lots of women come to regret having gotten an abortion, very few regret having a child.”
The organization Vets for Democracy, held a press conference on Aug. 2 in Phoenix, urging people to vote for Gallego in November.
“All of us up here signed a blank check that we would give our lives for America’s freedom and Kari Lake is an affront to that freedom,” said Signa Oliver, a U.S. army veteran. “While Kari Lake is all about control, Ruben Gallego is all about freedom.”
Meanwhile, Republican allies have begun to coalesce around Lake.
One of these is Lake’s former gubernatorial opponent Karrin Taylor Robson. During the 2022 race for Arizona governor, Robson and Lake fought tenuous campaigns to be the Republican candidate.
However, Robson endorsed Lake's campaign on July 31, following the Senate primary results.
“Senate nominee Kari Lake, our congressional nominees, and the winners of the GOP legislative primaries across the state have my full endorsement,” reads a statement from Robson. “We must come together as Republicans and defeat the radical left. We must stop Progressive Radical Ruben Gallego from stepping foot in the U.S. Senate.”
In response, Lake posted on X, saying that she was honored to have received Robson’s endorsement and that the AZGOP is “the most unified it’s ever been.”
With endorsements come funding. Gallego has nearly $31 million in funding behind him, according to Federal Election Commission data updated Monday. Lake, who solidified her position as the GOP nominee for the seat, has just under $10 million but is likely to increase now that she's the official GOP pick.
One challenge for Gallego is going to be name recognition. Though he's been a U.S. Representative, Gallego's state profile pales in comparison to the well-known former TV anchor. Polls have shown a large contingent of registered Arizona voters not having any opinion of the Democrat.
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