“Kari Lake is the proven fighter we need in the Senate to secure the border, grow our economy, lower the cost of living, and push pro-family policies,” Rubio said in a statement. “I am proud to endorse her for Senate in Arizona. Her opponent votes with Kamala Harris 100 percent of the time. Kari will be a strong voice for all Arizonans.”
Rubio (R-Florida), who has been in the Senate since 2011, is one of more than 30 Republican senators who have thrown their support behind Lake.
Lake said she was “honored” to have the endorsement of Rubio, who has campaigned for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s comeback bid for the White House.
“He has fought for the American Dream, the family, and our national security. I look forward to working with him in the Senate to get our country back on track,” she said.
Lake defeated Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb in the July 31 Republican primary, who endorsed her shortly afterward. She also garnered the endorsement of businesswoman Karrin Taylor Robson, who ran against Lake for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in 2022.
US Rep. Ruben Gallego, a Phoenix Democrat, is running against Lake in the bid to replace outgoing Independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, who is not seeking re-election after leaving the Democratic Party in December 2022.
Lake is currently trailing Gallego, according to RealClearPolitics’ polling average, which shows Gallego with a 3.4% lead. One Remington Research Group poll conducted from late June to early July has the race as a 47-47% tie.
However, the Senate contest may be determined by who is at the top of the ticket.
Trump has a 1.5% edge over Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris in the state, according to RealClearPolitics polling average, and Lake is a close ally of the former president.
Cook Political Report has the state ranked as a “toss-up” in their electoral college assessment.
Harris’ late entry at the top of the Democratic ticket has tightened the race, leading to skepticism from some Republicans who believe the polling bump for Harris is temporary.
Lake led a Republican news conference on border policy Thursday, a day before Harris and Walz held a rally in Glendale, Ariz.
Earlier this week, Lake and Gallego announced coalitions aimed at reaching Republicans and Democrats who feel their respective parties no longer represent their interests, as well as roughly a third of registered independent voters in Arizona. Those swing voters could ultimately decide the election in the Grand Canyon State and nationwide.
Lake led a Republican news conference on border policy Thursday, a day before Harris and Walz held a rally in Glendale, Ariz.
Advertisement