Trump ally Kari Lake loses governor’s race in battleground Arizona
- Democrat Katie Hobbs elected Arizona governor, defeating Kari Lake, an ally of Donald Trump
- This year, many Trump-endorsed candidates faltered in general elections in battleground states
The closely fought governor’s race between Lake and Democrat Katie Hobbs was one of the most significant in the general election because Arizona is a battleground state and is expected to play a pivotal role in the 2024 US presidential election.
Lake’s loss is the latest defeat for a series of candidates endorsed by Trump, who on Tuesday is expected to announce another White House bid.
After the Arizona governor race was called, Hobbs wrote on Twitter: “Democracy is worth the wait”. Lake expressed disdain for the election calls, tweeting that “Arizonans know BS when they see it”.
Lake had vowed to ban the state’s mail-in voting, which conspiracy theorists falsely claim is vulnerable to fraud, fuelling distrust among voters about the safety of a voting method used by hundreds of thousands of Americans.
Her defeat capped a triumphant week for Democrats, who defied Republicans’ hopes for a “red wave” in the midterm elections.