Kari Lake, a candidate for a US Senate seat in Arizona, gained attention by urging the resignation of the Arizona Republican Party’s chair. Lake, notable for her 2022 gubernatorial campaign, alleges that Jeff DeWit attempted to persuade her to withdraw from the Senate race, with a recorded conversation supporting her allegations. She contends that this is part of a scheme to undermine Donald Trump’s presidential campaign.
The British publication Daily Mail said on January 23 that it had received an audio of a conversation between DeWit and Lake. Lake is asked, “There are very powerful people who want to keep you out,” by a man who sounds like DeWit on the tape. Lake interrupts him at this moment and asks if he believes she can be purchased; DeWit responds that she might “take a pause for a couple of years.”
Lake urged DeWit to step down. “We can’t have somebody who is corrupt and compromised running the Republican Party.”
DeWit assumed the role of Arizona GOP chair in January of the previous year, having previously served as the chief operating officer for Trump’s presidential campaigns in 2016 and 2020.
In the recorded conversation, he expresses his belief that Trump will not succeed, suggesting that another person should be the nominee. Lake, a steadfast supporter of the 45th president, disagrees with this viewpoint.
Following the release of the recording, additional Arizona Republicans supported Lake’s call for DeWit to resign. Maricopa County Republican Party Chairman Craig Berland stated that if the tape is authentic, he would also advocate for DeWit’s resignation.
DeWit resigned on January 24th.
Lake, a former news anchor for Fox affiliate KSAZ-TV, gained national recognition in 2022 when her bid for Arizona’s gubernatorial race was unsuccessful, and subsequently, she advocated for the decertification of the election results.
She is a staunch supporter of Trump and has been suggested as a possible vice-presidential candidate to join him in the November election.
Meanwhile, she appears committed to continue her Senate campaign, anticipating a challenging competition. Presently, the polls show Lake with a mere 1% lead over her liberal opponent, Ruben Gallego (D), but this is in a one-on-one matchup.
The position she is vying for is presently occupied by the independent Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), who switched from the Democratic party. Sinema has not disclosed her intentions regarding a potential re-election bid.
