By Daniel Walker | April 17, 2024

Twice as much

Kari Lake, a former newscaster and current Arizona Republican gubernatorial candidate for 2022, has been highly effective in securing campaign donations as she vies to succeed the outgoing U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) in the upcoming autumn election.

According to her campaign, Lake brought in $4.1 million during the first quarter of this year, which “is roughly twice as much as she raised in 2023’s last fundraising quarter,” The Daily Caller reported, adding that she now has around $2.5 million in cash on hand.
 

Republican rival

In the initial quarter, the Democratic contender, Ruben Gallego, amassed $7.5 million in contributions and currently holds $9.6 million in reserves, outstripping his Republican rival, as highlighted by the source.
 

Campaign spokesperson

“Kari Lake doubled her fundraising haul from last quarter. She is seeing strong from grassroots donors and Arizona donors,” a Lake campaign spokesperson noted in a statement. “Gallego is Far-Left, and out of step with Arizonans. Just like President Trump, Kari is performing strong in Arizona and will win in November.”
 

Majority of donations

Lake's campaign successfully raised $1.3 million from 40,000 contributions, with around 22,000 individual donors contributing. The majority of donations were small amounts, with 99% being under $200. Contributions were received from all 50 states in the U.S., as well as from Guam, Puerto Rico, and Washington, D.C.
 

Same timeframe

A fundraiser held on March 6 in Washington, D.C. following independent Sinema's decision not to seek re-election brought in $330,000 for Lake. In the same timeframe, Gallego's campaign reported collecting $1 million within 24 hours of Sinema's announcement.
 

Various GOP Senators

Throughout the fundraising period, Lake garnered support from the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) and received endorsements from various GOP Senators, including Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, Josh Hawley of Missouri, J.D. Vance of Ohio, Rand Paul of Kentucky, Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, and Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming.
 

Campaign operations

In the final quarter of 2023, Lake's campaign raised $2.1 million, commencing the election year with slightly over $1 million in funds for campaign operations, according to the Federal Election Commission's data. 
 

Same periods

In contrast, Gallego's campaign collected $3.3 million during the same period and had $6.5 million available, as reported by the Caller.
 

Independent candidate

A survey conducted by the Bullfinch Group indicated that Lake and Gallego were tied at 41%, with an additional 10% backing an unnamed independent candidate. On March 20, an Emerson College poll showed Gallego leading by four points, with 16% of voters undecided.
 

The competition

The Cook Political Report classified the competition for Sinema's seat in 2024 as a "Toss Up," along with Senate contests in Montana, Nevada, and Ohio, as stated by the Caller.
 

American people

Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has also expressed his support for Lake. “Kari has proven that she will always prioritize the security and well-being of Arizonans and the American people and will not back down from a fight. I am proud to endorse her for the U.S. Senate today,” Cruz said in a statement shared with the Daily Mail in March.
 

Competent leader

In endorsing Lake, Cruz commended her strong position on immigration and border security, emphasizing the need for a competent leader in the state, which has experienced a notable surge in unauthorized border crossings.
 

Not afraid

“Border states have been on the frontlines of Joe Biden’s open border crisis for over three years, which is why we need a leader in Arizona who is not afraid to stand up and join the fight for a secure border,” Cruz said.
 

Steadfast support

In February, Senator Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), known for his steadfast support of conservative principles, threw his endorsement behind Lake.
 

Elected representative

“I’m honored to endorse my friend Kari Lake to be Arizona’s next U.S. Senator. Kari is a strong, principled conservative, who knows and loves the people of Arizona and will make them proud as their elected representative,” he said in a statement.
 

Fight tirelessly

“Kari is fearless, she doesn’t back down, and she will fight tirelessly to secure our border and make our country safe and prosperous. The stakes could not be higher and it is now more important than ever that we retake the Republican majority and get our country back on the right track for all working American families and citizens,” he added.
 

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