Kari Lake raises more than $2M in first quarter as Arizona Senate candidate

Kari Lake raised $2.1 million during her first quarter as an Arizona Senate candidate, according to her campaign.

The former TV news anchor-turned-politician launched her long-anticipated campaign on Oct. 10 and quickly began racking up establishment support. Her fundraising total includes the period from mid-October to Dec. 31. Her cash-on-hand amount was not immediately available.

Arizona’s Senate race could be a historic three-way contest. Incumbent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema left the Democratic Party to become an independent and has not announced whether she will run again. Rep. Ruben Gallego is the top Democratic contender.

“Kari Lake is outworking everyone, posting a very strong fundraising haul for her first quarter in the race. Arizona is the best pick up opportunity for Senate Republicans,” Garrett Ventry, a Lake senior adviser, said in a statement.

Lake has nabbed endorsements from former President Donald Trump, and Sens. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.). She is trying to strike a different tone this cycle than when she ran for governor in 2022 in a campaign that focused heavily on claims of election fraud and personal attacks on her rivals.

Lake attempted to pivot in 2023, currying favor with GOP leaders and attempting a détente with allies of the late Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) whom she antagonized.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee has not yet endorsed in the primary but is working closely with Lake’s team. Steve Daines (R-Mont.), the Senate campaign chief, texts frequently with Lake about the race, according to a person familiar with their interactions.

“Kari Lake has strong grassroots support that is clearly translating to fundraising success,” Daines said in a statement.

Neither of Lake’s likely rivals have announced their fourth-quarter fundraising. But Gallego has raised more than $3 million for the past three quarters. Sinema’s fundraising has dried up somewhat since her party switch, but she had more than $10 million in the bank after the third quarter.

Two other Senate GOP candidates have also announced their totals from the last three months of 2023. Dave McCormick in Pennsylvania raised $5.4 million and gave himself another $1 million contribution. Sam Brown in Nevada raised $1.85 million.