The possibility of Lake and Masters re-entering politics complicates the renewed optimism felt by Republican officials about capitalizing on cinema’s recent switch to party independence. Ruben Gallego Since Republicans are already in the race, they see it as a great opportunity to win the election with a large number of votes.
Now there is a new fear that they will ruin the opportunity by putting up a candidate who is in line with former President Donald Trump or who sticks to election denial. After being narrowly defeated by Governor Katie Hobbs, Lake’s protests against the governor’s unemployment raised eyebrows, especially within the party.
“The 2024 candidates whose main election theme is stolen elections will have the same problems that some of the 2022 candidates had. John Tune, second leader of the Senate Republican Party. “I don’t think that’s where the American people belong. I have.”
Far from bowing to what happened in 2022, the Arizona-set MAGA seems to have gotten even more daring in its quest for office. It’s all wrong,” he said, adding that the “Washington Cartel” is “indicating that it is ready to give up the Senate seat in Arizona to the Radical Left.”
Few states, if any, present a clearer proving ground for the future of the Republican Party than Arizona. A nation that has been a bastion of conservatism and libertarianism for decades is leaning left. Democrats won three consecutive Senate elections in the final gubernatorial and presidential elections of 2020. Additionally, Arizona typically has late primaries, making it more difficult for challengers to solidify their support before the general election.
“Look at what happened in the last two elections: Arizona-based Republican strategist Barrett Merson said MAGA There is absolutely no need to guess what happens when the nominees for Arizonas ignore the bread-and-butter issue that Arizonas care about. Republicans must go back to basics.”
The trend has alarmed more and more Republicans, who are privately discussing ways to stop them. He went so far as to encourage Masters to run for the House of Representatives instead of the Senate because it would cost an exorbitant amount of money to restore the Conversation. Republicans think Lake and Masters are unlikely to face each other.
Rumor has it that he is a member of parliament. Paul Gossard (R-Arizona) could retire, opening a safe red sheet and helping ease the crowded field in the contest. Gosar denied the speculation in a short interview with POLITICO. I still want to see this majority go to the White House and the Senate. ”
Sen. Steve DanesThe chairman of the Senate Republican Campaign Division said in an interview that it was “too early” but that he would “see a candidate who can win the general election.”
Sen. sherry moore capito (RW.Va.) said: And I think the person who can win should be the main character. They’ve never won before, so I think that’s going to be difficult. ”
After being very focused on whether they support cinema Or Gallego, Democrats are happy to talk about Republican issues.
“Republicans in Arizona are stuck with a hodgepodge of unsuccessful candidates,” said Nora Keefe, spokesperson for the Democratic Senate Election Committee. I’m sure we can.”
Asked about Lake’s interest in running for the Senate, Wren said, “Her current focus is litigation, and that hasn’t changed.” The door is not closed,” he said.
Other potential candidates for Senate include Pinal County Sheriff Rep. Mark Lamb. Juan Ciscomanithe unsuccessful 2022 Senator Jim Laymon, and Karin Taylor-Robson, a businessman who lost to Lake in the primary election last year.
Establishment Republicans have shown particular interest in trying to get Robson and Ciscomani into the race, saying they want to avoid a repeat of 2022 when red wave hopes ended with the Democratic net profit in the Senate election. thinking about. Robson, his self-funder, donated millions of dollars from his bank account to last year’s gubernatorial race, but lost to Lake in his primary.
A person close to Robson said she has not ruled out running for the Senate, describing her thinking: Maybe now is the time. ”
Fresh out of office after winning a competitive congressional seat, Ciscomani was a highly regarded GOP recruit in 2022. recently tweeted That Ciscomani says “[f]It’s an amazing new addition to the House of Representatives, and has raised eyebrows in the Republican Party. But starting a statewide bid from his Tucson-based district can be difficult for Cisco Mani, especially in the field of candidates who have just finished the statewide race.
For traditional Republicans, the ultimate dream candidate is former Gov. Doug Ducey, but we think it could be after he was elected to the Senate last year and clashed with Trump in the 2020 presidential election. there are few people.
“He made it pretty clear he wasn’t interested, but he would be a great option,” Thune said.
Like Master, Ram is Lake’s ally. Sources say Lam is in talks with consultants and plans to make a decision earlier this year. “He’s seriously considering running for U.S. Senate,” Lamb’s spokesperson Corey Vale said.
Lamon spokesperson Stephen Puetz said:[i]If a fa winner emerges, he’ll strongly endorse him — if not, Jim will run for office in 2024. ”
One of the candidates who has ruled out running is Kerry Ward, former chairman of the Arizona Republican Party. She told her POLITICO that she has no plans to run for the Senate again or run for the House of Representatives, which she ran for in 2016 and 2018. The State Party is now run by Jeff DeWitt, who backed Trump in the 2020 presidential campaign. Arizona Republicans did not respond to requests for comment.
Lake’s advisers claim she’s currently participating in a lawsuit to overturn the election, but she found time to mention Gallego at Sunday’s rally.
Lake remains popular among the Republican public in Arizona. She appeared to cheer her up at the state party convention in Phoenix on Saturday and drew a large crowd at the following night’s rally.
Lake said Brady Smith, an Arizona-based Republican strategist and former aide to Lake, said, “On Sunday nights in January in odd-numbered years, supporters would turn up just to listen to her. appeared,” he said. “She has proven that she still serves the loyalty of Republican voters. Anyone watching the Senate race should factor that into their calculations.”
David Siders contributed to this report.
