Lake Criticizes Arizona GOP

Former Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake argued this week that some members of the state’s Republican Party did not want her to run for an open U.S. Senate seat this year because she is uncontrollable. The candidate also backed allies at a meeting of the Arizona state GOP, receiving some criticism from the audience.

Lake said that resistance to her candidacy was due to her position as an “America First” candidate. She told Fox News Sunday that there were Republicans who wanted to “get people back in the U.S. Senate who they can control, who might be more of the neocon type Republican who are going to continue to push for endless wars, who are going to continue to push for an open border policy like the ones we currently have representing us.”

Lake is currently neck-and-neck with the possible Democratic nominee in the race, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ). Current Sen. Kirsten Sinema (I-AZ) has not announced whether she would seek a second term.

.@KariLake: "I live in Arizona. I have covered this state for 27 years. It was never more safe and secure than under President Trump." pic.twitter.com/4EKOMXszb4

— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) January 28, 2024

Lake’s comments came after she released a recording which she argues was an attempt by a Republican state official to bribe her into not running for the Senate seat. The candidate accused Republican Party Chairman Jeff DeWit of offering money in exchange for her non-candidacy.

“There are very powerful people that want to keep you out,” DeWit told Lake in the recording. “But they’re willing to put their money where their mouth is in a big way.”

The official then reportedly asked if there was “a number at which…” to which Lake responds “I can be bought?” Following the release of the tape, DeWit stepped down from his role as the state’s GOP chair. He had previously been a prominent member of the national Republican Party, being one of the first officials to endorse former President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign and serving on his campaign staff.

DeWit said in his resignation announcement that Lake threatened to release another tape if he did not step down.