Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey: GOP gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake is ‘misleading voters’
Jul 18, 2022, 4:45 AM
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, Facebook Photo/The Kari Lake)
PHOENIX — Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey on Sunday continued his support of Karrin Taylor Robson in the Republican gubernatorial primary race, saying opponent Kari Lake is “misleading voters” about the 2020 election.
“Kari Lake is misleading voters with no evidence,” Ducey said in an interview on CNN’s State of the Union. “She’s been tagged by her opponents with the nickname ‘Fake Lake,’ which seems to be sticking and actually doing some damage.”
Former President Donald Trump has endorsed Lake for the Republican primary as the longtime former Valley TV anchor continues to push claims that the election was fraudulent and Joe Biden did not win, despite numerous reviews that have proven otherwise.
Ducey earlier this month backed Taylor Robson for the office, who in a recent gubernatorial debate did not support that the presidential race was rigged and instead said it was unfair due to new rules and laws enacted prior to the election.
“Karrin Taylor Robson is the real conservative, she’s the real deal,” Ducey said. “I think Karrin Taylor Robson will be the best person to be a fresh new leader for the state of Arizona.”
The term-limited governor added Lake’s campaign bears no resemblance to anything she’s done over the past three decades.
“This is all an act,” Ducey said. “She’s been putting on a show for some time now and we’ll see if the voters of Arizona buy it.”
Lake responded to the interview in a tweet, saying she can’t figure out why Ducey doesn’t support the former president’s movement.
Polling released earlier this month shows a close race between Lake and Taylor Robson for the Aug. 2 Republican primary.
Lake’s lead over Taylor Robson was 5 points at 40%-35%, according to OH Predictive Insights’ poll released on July 6, with 21% of likely GOP voters still unsure.
However, Taylor Robson gained three points from an earlier poll after former congressman Matt Salmon dropped out of the race and put his support behind her.
Ducey in the interview didn’t give a clear answer if the Republican Governors Association, which he serves as chairman, would support Lake if she were to win the race.
He added the election should be about the future and “we shouldn’t think for one more moment about 2020.”