During the 2022 election cycle, Kari Lake, the likely GOP nominee for governor in Arizona, has been criticized for her frequent out-of-state travel. She has even caught the attention of former President Donald Trump, who reportedly expressed annoyance at her trips to his resort, Mar-a-Lago in Florida.
Trump sees Lake as a key player in the high-stakes Senate race against Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego in the fall and has urged her to focus more on campaigning in Arizona. While this particular Senate race may not be the most important this cycle, it carries significant weight for Republicans aiming to regain control of the chamber.
Lake’s repeated out-of-state trips have raised concerns among her critics, who have pointed out her absence from the campaign trail in Arizona. Despite this criticism, spokespeople for both Trump and Lake have defended her actions. A Trump spokesman praised Lake as a “Smart and Fearless Leader” who is expected to win in Arizona. Meanwhile, a senior advisor to Lake insists that she is running a strong campaign, despite her travel schedule.
The Arizona Democratic Party has capitalized on Lake’s frequent travels by sending out newsletters titled “Where In The World Is Kari Lake?” highlighting her whereabouts. During a recent appearance in Idaho, Lake appeared to backtrack on her stance against Arizona’s abortion law, indicating that it was not being enforced as she had hoped.