ARIZONA NEWS

Kari Lake thanks supporters, touts Trump’s win but doesn’t concede Senate race in new video

Nov 14, 2024, 1:56 PM | Updated: 1:57 pm

Kari Lake video...

Kari Lake takes the mic at a rally outside the Yavapai County Courthouse in Prescott on Nov. 4, 2024. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

(Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

PHOENIX – Kari Lake thanked her supporters in Arizona and touted Donald Trump’s return to the White House in a new video, but it wasn’t a conventional concession speech.

The Republican posted the message to social media on Wednesday evening, two days after The Associated Press called the 2024 Senate race in Democrat Ruben Gallego’s favor.

Lake rose to political prominence on the wave of Trump’s MAGA movement, but all she has to show for it electorally is two statewide losses.

She famously refused to concede after her 2022 loss to Katie Hobbs in the gubernatorial race. Instead, she claimed election fraud and waged an unsuccessful legal battle to overturn the results. That effort finally died last week, two days after Election Day, when the Arizona Supreme Court refused to hear her latest appeal.

During her new 2½- minute video, Lake discussed her entry into politics after a career as local TV news anchor and cited a Bible verse. She also applauded her party’s successes in the 2024 election without mentioning her own contest.

“Arizona is a special place and I’m thankful that President Trump and a Republican majority in both chambers of Congress will be in office to help protect us,” she said. “As I watch his cabinet forming, I take great comfort in knowing that America will be made great again.”

Political expert weighs in on Kari Lake video, her future prospects

Valley political expert Stan Barnes of Copper State Consulting said viewers’ response to the video will depend on how they already feel about Lake.

“If you’re a Kari Lake supporter, I think you believe that video was perfectly timed and gracious and well done. If you are a Kari Lake critic, you were looking for her to congratulate Ruben Gallego and to concede the race, which she did not do,” Barnes told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Thursday.

While Lake didn’t mention future plans in the video, Barnes doesn’t think political observers have seen the last of her.

“I think she’s got a lot of options,” he said.

Barnes speculated that Lake could end up with a role on the White House communications team or perhaps return to the broadcasting world as a political commentator.

He also isn’t ready to rule out the possibility of another run for office.

“She seems to be full of ambition and seems to be unbowed about two very high-profile losses at a statewide level. Maybe she’ll retrench and do something less than statewide,” Barnes said.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Heidi Hommel contributed to this report.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

Arizona News

Economists foresee labor shortages in construction and agriculture as a result of President Donald ...

Matthew DeWees and Katrina Michalak/Cronkite News

Donald Trump’s mass deportations could mean higher costs and labor shortages in Arizona

Deportations ordered by President Trump could hit Arizona’s agriculture and construction sectors hard, pushing up prices for shoppers.

3 hours ago

Immigration Arizona criminal charges 565 people USAO...

Payne Moses

More than 500 charged with immigration-related crime in Arizona over recent 2-week period

From Jan. 21-Feb. 3, a total of 565 people were charged with illegal immigration activity by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona.

6 hours ago

Two Valley freeway ramps will be closed for the next two months....

Kevin Stone

2 Valley on-ramps closing for 2 months as part of freeway improvement projects

A couple of metro Phoenix freeway ramps are closing for the next two months as part of ongoing improvement projects.

10 hours ago

Honeywell Aerospace...

Collin Huguley and Jeff Gifford/Phoenix Business Journal

Phoenix-based Honeywell Aerospace to go its own way amid company split

Phoenix-based Honeywell Aerospace Technologies is going to become a separate entity now that Honeywell International Inc. plans to follow through with a major shake-up.

10 hours ago

fatal shooting southeast Phoenix one man dead...

Payne Moses

Police investigating fatal shooting that left 1 man dead in southeast Phoenix

Phoenix police are investigating a fatal shooting in southeast Phoenix on Friday that left one man dead. The incident is being viewed as an act of self-defense.

18 hours ago

Phoenix woman hit killed by car West Phoenix...

Payne Moses

Woman dead after hit by car while crossing street in west Phoenix

An adult woman was struck and killed by a car on Friday while crossing a street in west Phoenix, authorities said.

19 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

...

Collins Comfort Masters

Collins Comfort Masters: Your go-to plumbing experts in Arizona

Collins Comfort Masters, a trusted name in HVAC, water and plumbing since 1985, is you go-to plumbers for the residents of Phoenix and the Valley.

...

Bright Wealth Management

How IRAs are a helpful tool in retirement planning

When it comes to retirement planning, individual retirement accounts (IRAs) can be a great tool for income growth.

...

Bright Wealth Management

How to save money on retirement planning following 2024 election

PHOENIX -- With the 2024 election over, economic changes could impact how people plan for retirement as 2025 is on the horizon.

Kari Lake thanks supporters, touts Trump’s win but doesn’t concede Senate race in new video