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Arizona Republican Senate candidate Kari Lake has been making waves in recent weeks with her quiet meetings with lobbyists and fundraising efforts in Washington. Known for her anti-establishment stance, Lake has surprised many by cozying up to the D.C. political elite in her bid to unseat U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema.
Lake, a former Arizona gubernatorial candidate, has been building her political brand around her willingness to challenge the establishment wing of the GOP. However, her recent actions indicate a shift towards aligning herself with the forces that wield power on Capitol Hill.
Despite her previous statements about not caring what lobbyists think, Lake has been actively meeting with industry players, strategizing with top GOP lobbyists, and raising money from well-connected donors in Washington. This shift in strategy has raised eyebrows among her supporters who saw her as a fierce outsider willing to take on the political elites.
The Arizona Senate race is expected to be one of the most competitive and expensive contests in the nation this fall. With President Joe Biden winning the state by a slim margin in 2020, both parties are gearing up for a tough battle to secure the nomination and ultimately win the seat.
Lake’s recent whirlwind schedule in D.C. includes meetings with powerful Republican leaders like Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and fundraisers attended by influential lobbyists and lawmakers. Despite her previous criticisms of McConnell, Lake seems willing to work with him and other establishment figures to further her political ambitions.
At a recent campaign fundraiser, Lake managed to raise $330,000 for her campaign, the National Republican Senatorial Committee, and her leadership PAC called Keep America Red Indefinitely (KARI). The event was attended by lobbyists representing tech giant Microsoft, the American Bankers Association, and over a dozen senators.
While Lake has already received endorsements from former President Donald Trump, her past claims of election improprieties and campaigning on the false idea that the 2020 election was rigged have raised questions about her credibility. Despite these controversies, Lake remains a formidable contender in the Arizona Senate race.
In a recent radio interview, Lake hinted at ongoing concerns about election integrity, despite not discussing the issue with lobbyists in her recent meetings. Instead, the focus has been on a wide range of policy issues, including the economy.
Lake has also stated that if elected to the Senate, she will vote to extend the tax cuts passed under Trump’s administration, some of which are set to expire next year. This aligns her with traditional Republican economic policies and could appeal to voters looking for a fiscally conservative candidate.
Overall, Lake’s evolving political strategy and outreach to establishment figures indicate a willingness to adapt and collaborate with powerful interests in pursuit of her Senate ambitions. Whether this shift will help or hurt her chances in the highly competitive Arizona Senate race remains to be seen. As the campaign unfolds, Lake will have to navigate the complexities of D.C. politics while staying true to her anti-establishment roots to appeal to voters in a rapidly changing political landscape.
