Former Arizona GOP gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake’s campaign for the U.S. Senate received a significant boost this week, a development that could sway undecided voters in her favor.
In a surprising turn, former Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, once at odds with Lake, has thrown his support behind both Donald Trump and Lake in the upcoming November 5th general election. Ducey’s endorsement of Lake, who is set to challenge Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego, marks a notable shift in the political landscape.
Ducey, who has a history of differences with Trump, made his position clear in a series of posts on X (formerly known as Twitter). “I will be voting for Republicans up & down the ballot in November – and both Donald Trump and Kari Lake have my endorsement,” Ducey announced. He underscored the importance of unity in this election, stating that the stakes are too high to allow past disagreements to interfere. Ducey highlighted the need for a Republican-led White House and a GOP majority in both the House and Senate, stressing the critical nature of this election.
Key issues driving Ducey’s endorsement include concerns over inflation, border security, and foreign policy. Additionally, he pointed to school choice, tax cuts, and the protection of the Supreme Court as pivotal concerns for the upcoming election.
Lake, a former newscaster from Phoenix, expressed her gratitude for Ducey’s endorsement. She praised his achievements during his tenure as governor, particularly his efforts to transform Arizona’s economy and education system. “Doug Ducey supports me because he knows it’s never been more important to unite all Arizonans and win big in November. Thank you, Governor!” Lake stated.
During a campaign event on Thursday, Lake took aim at Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, labeling them as threats to border security. She was joined by Jade Gillon, a woman who revealed her transition from being a Democrat to supporting Republicans.
Gillon shared her powerful story and reasons for her political shift, expressing frustration with the Democratic Party. “My name is Jade. I am a former Democrat. Unlike Kamala Harris, I’m an actual real-life black woman. I’m a former Democrat who is currently registered Republican,” Gillon said, emphasizing her disillusionment with the Democratic Party’s tactics. “I’m tired of the Democrats using the generational trauma of my people to garner votes. They invoke fear, they tell me I’m oppressed, they tell me I’m less than, they tell me I’m not good enough, and they tell me that my white brothers and sisters in Christ are my enemy. They are not.”
Gillon continued to criticize the Democratic Party, pointing out the struggles she faces under the current administration. “The enemy is telling me that, don’t worry that I can’t pay my bills and I’m working six days a week this week and I’m tired. And I went to school and I have a career. I’m doing worse under this administration than in Donald Trump’s administration, but I’m told to be afraid of a man who made my life better?”
Her remarks resonated with the crowd as she questioned the logic behind the fear-mongering tactics often employed by the Democrats. “During COVID, I knew more of my white guy friends that lost their jobs than me and my black girlfriends. We are the same in this country. All these Americans want the same thing,” she said.
Gillon concluded her remarks with a powerful statement about the shared aspirations of Americans, regardless of race. “We want safety. We want prosperity. We want peace. And the Democrats keep going back and look, check it out, right? I honor my ancestors and the people who fought for us to be in this room here today. No one is discounting what my people went through,” she asserted. “I don’t owe the Democrats anything. They owe me. They’re to serve us. They’re public servants. Stop putting them on a pedestal.”
Kari Lake’s momentum in the Senate race was further solidified last week when she secured the Republican nomination with a decisive victory. Polling in July showed Lake had taken a slight lead over Gallego, and recent analysis by The Hill suggests that Lake is now leading by two percentage points. Lake, who ran for governor in 2022 with Trump’s endorsement, has made immigration a central issue in her campaign, blaming Gallego for the surge of migrants at Arizona’s southern border due to his support of Biden’s policies.
As the November election approaches, Lake’s campaign appears to be gaining strength, particularly with Ducey’s influential endorsement. The race is shaping up to be a fierce battle, with the potential to impact the broader political landscape in Arizona and beyond.
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