Kari Lake Formally Announces Senate Campaign At Arizona Rally

Republican Kari Lake, who lost a close governor's race in 2022, launched a long-anticipated campaign Tuesday for U.S. Senate at a rally in Scottsdale, Arizona.

"Things aren't just going in the wrong direction — we're going right off the edge of a cliff right now," Lake said. "But it doesn't have to be that way."

Throughout the rally, Lake praised former President Donald Trump and criticized President Joe Biden, who she claimed represents a "threat to America."

"The world is on fire and it seems like every day Joe Biden wakes up and pours a little more gasoline on it," Lake said.

A video showing Trump endorsing Lake was shown during the rally.

"I am proud to give her my complete and total endorsement for United States Senate," Trump said in the video.

Lake enters the race as the favorite to become the Republican nominee. A former television anchor and close ally of Trump, Lake previously lost a gubernatorial campaign to Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs in 2022 by about 17,000 votes. She has so far been unsuccessful in legal challenges to contest that loss.

Lake will likely face Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., and could also challenge incumbent Sen. Krysten Sinema, I-Ariz., who left the Democratic Party following the 2022 midterms. Though Sinema has not said whether she plans to run for re-election, she has pitched a "path to victory" to potential donors.

Polls demonstrate the race could shape up to be extremely competitive, should it become a three-way battle between Lake, Sinema and Gallego.