Lake claims victory in GOP primary for Arizona governor despite no official call

PHOENIX — Kari Lake claimed victory and even scheduled a press conference Wednesday touting the win to be the Republican candidate for governor in Arizona despite no official call.

Lake’s lead over Karrin Taylor Robson in the primary election was about 12,000 votes at 11 a.m. Wednesday, an hour before she was set to deliver a victory speech.

The first batch of results had Taylor Robson about 40,000 votes ahead at 8 p.m. Her lead dwindled and eventually moved in favor of Lake by the early hours of Wednesday.

Lake tweeted a message at Democratic gubernatorial candidate Katie Hobbs, who won her primary race handily.

“We won today 7 of 10 Election Day votes,” Lake said Tuesday night at her watch party before taking the lead. “Those votes are not counted yet. There is no path to victory for my opponent and we won this race. Period.”

Maricopa, Pima and Pinal counties are the only ones left to report results.

Maricopa County, the most populous in the state, plans to release more results at 7 p.m.

Taylor Robson said Tuesday night when she was still leading that patience was needed in the process.

“There are a lot of good people involved in this process and it is vitally important that they take the time necessary to get it right,” Taylor Robson said. “Whether you cast a ballot for me or one of my opponents, every legitimate vote counts.”

Former President Donald Trump backed Lake, who walked away from her nearly three-decade career in television news and embraced his lies about the 2020 election.

Taylor Robson, the housing developer and former Arizona Board of Regents member, was backed by prominent Republicans around the country looking to push their party to move on from Trump.

Those endorsements included Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, who is term limited, and former Trump Vice President Mike Pence.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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