Donald Trump endorses Kari Lake for Arizona governor

PHOENIX — Former President Donald Trump announced Tuesday his endorsement of Kari Lake for Arizona governor, more than a year before the state votes to replace term-limited Doug Ducey.

Trump said Lake, a Republican and former TV anchor, would be a “great governor for the incredible people of Arizona.”

“She will do a far better job than RINO Governor Doug Ducey—won’t even be a contest,” Trump said in a press release. “Kari will make her wonderful family and the MAGA movement very proud.”

Lake is among a crowded group of GOP candidates looking to replace Ducey, who was elected as Arizona’s 23rd governor in 2014 and has been the subject of Trump scrutiny in recent months over his continued assertion that the 2020 election wasn’t stolen from the former Republican president.

A poll released Tuesday from Phoenix-based OH Predictive Insights showed Lake led Republican candidates at 25%.

Former U.S. Rep. Matt Salmon was a distant second with 9%. State Treasurer Kimberly Yee was third with 6% while 53% said they were unsure.

Secretary of State Katie Hobbs led the Democratic candidates with 40% in the same poll.

Lake announced her gubernatorial run on June 1, about two months after leaving Fox 10 following 22 years at the station.

“This means so much to me because I know how much you love America and how much the people of this country love you,” Lake said in a tweet. “I promise to fight as hard for the people of Arizona as you have fought for us.”

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