Blake Masters’s Senate run surprises Arizona Republicans.
The Battle for Arizona: Blake Masters Prepares to Challenge Kari Lake in GOP Primary
The political landscape in Arizona is heating up as Blake Masters, a former Senate candidate, announces his intention to run for the seat currently held by Sen. Kyrsten Sinema. While speculation had been swirling around Kari Lake, who has been teasing a potential Senate run, Masters’ entry into the race adds an unexpected twist.
Masters and Lake, both endorsed by former President Donald Trump in their previous campaigns, lost in the general election. Now, they could find themselves going head-to-head in a contentious GOP primary in this battleground state.
A Clash of Titans
The Wall Street Journal reported Masters’ decision to run again, catching many by surprise. Lake, a polarizing conservative and vocal Trump supporter, has been coy about her Senate ambitions. However, her refusal to concede her gubernatorial loss and her promotion of unfounded election claims have kept her in the spotlight.
With Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb considered an underdog in the race, the Republican field has been relatively quiet. Meanwhile, Sinema, who left the Democratic Party to become an independent, has not yet confirmed if she will seek a second term. On the Democratic side, potential nominee Gallego has been actively campaigning, holding multiple town halls across the state.
“A Team Divided”
“They ran as a team, so having them on opposite sides this cycle, that would be very interesting,” said Barrett Marson, an Arizona-based GOP strategist. “In a primary like this, Kari Lake knows how to energize the base and Blake just cannot match that. His only hope is he may know something that we don’t — he may know that she is not running.”
The possibility of a Lake versus Blake primary has generated significant buzz. During the previous election cycle, they often campaigned together as a “unity ticket” and promoted each other on social media. However, their paths have diverged, and now they may find themselves as rivals.
First Shots Fired
It appears that Lake may have been aware of Masters’ plans before they were made public. On August 25, Masters announced a livestream with Arizona House candidate Andrew Jackson, who has not endorsed Lake’s election fraud conspiracy theories. In response, the Kari Lake War Room account on X (formerly known as Twitter) posted a snarky message, welcoming Masters back and hoping for a different interviewer.
Lake later scolded Masters on her personal X account, demanding that he address election fraud and election crime.
The Road Ahead
If Lake decides to run, she is expected to be the favorite for the nomination. However, her narrow loss in the previous election raises doubts about her ability to win a general election. Republican strategist Chuck Coughlin believes that Masters could have a chance if he can overcome Lake in the primary.
“It’s not easy, it’s going to be hard,” Coughlin explained. “But, I believe he, of anyone on that side, has created a space for himself capable of growing that Republican base.”
Winning over independent voters will be crucial in Arizona, where they outnumber registered Republicans and Democrats. According to a report by Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, there are 1.5 million voters with no party affiliation in the state.
As Republicans assess the Arizona Senate race, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has expressed some hesitation about investing resources. Masters did not receive enthusiastic support from establishment Republicans in his previous campaign, and McConnell blamed “candidate quality” issues for the party’s losses in the midterm elections.
Arizona, once a Republican stronghold, has become a battleground state. President Joe Biden’s victory in 2020 and the election of two Democratic senators in 2022 have shifted the political landscape. The upcoming primary is far from settled, and the outcome remains uncertain.
Stay tuned for an official announcement from Blake Masters, expected in the coming week.
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