Kari Lake, the likely Republican nominee for governor in Arizona, has been under fire for her frequent out-of-state travels during the 2022 election cycle. She has even drawn attention from former President Donald Trump, who expressed frustration at her trips to his resort, Mar-a-Lago in Florida.
Trump, who sees Lake as a key player in the high-stakes Senate race against Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego in the fall, 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.
Despite criticism from her opponents and even former President Trump, spokespeople for both 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.