Kari Lake makes 'sharp pivot' to court same Republicans she 'went out of her way to offend': report

Arizona Republican senate candidate Kari Lake solidified a reputation of election denier following her 2022 gubernatorial loss to Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs.

According to a Wednesday Politico report, the 2024 senate hopeful has made "a sharp pivot after a brutal midterm in which Lake bragged after her primary win that she 'drove a stake through the heart of the [former U.S. Senator John] McCain machine.'"

Per the news outlet, GOP senators "have urged Lake to focus on the present election and drop mentions of election fraud," in her efforts to claim U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema's (I-AZ) seat next year.

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The failed gubernatorial candidate "has begun reaching out to Republicans she attacked last year, trying to mend the relationships she shredded," according to the report, however, it's still "unclear" whether her attempt to attract necessary GOP support will succeed.

"Lake's bid to make nice could pay off if it at all weakens Sinema's appeal with the more moderate wing of the Republican Party," Politico notes," but "Sinema has not decided whether she will run but she has strong relationships with centrist Republicans in the state, particularly those in the mold of the late Sen. John McCain."

Ex-Arizona state House Speaker Kirk Adams, a Republican, commented, "Will those traditional Reagan-McCain voters trust the new Kari Lake? That's a good question. She went out of her way to offend that group of voters, and she wore it as a point of pride, and I don't know if people will change their opinion of her."

The report notes Lake's "biggest attempted detente so far is with Karrin Taylor Robson, her 2022 primary opponent whom she once strongly insinuated was a gold digger using her husband’s money to try to buy Arizona’' governorship."

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Additionally, the senate hopeful "has been in contact with Kathy Petsas, a GOP activist in the state and she's also contacted an ex-Sinema opponent, former GOP Sen. Martha McSally, according to a person familiar with her strategy."

She has not spoken with ex-Republican Governor Doug Ducey, the report notes, and "Sharon Harper, a consigliere for Cindy McCain, the widow of the late senator, said Lake has not reached out to her. Harper is fundraising for Sinema."

When Politico asked Harper whether she planned to meet Lake, she replied, "I'm focused on other things right now."

Politico's full report is here.