AFP extension
ANNOUNCEMENTS•
Democratic candidate Katie Hobbs has won the gubernatorial election in the US state of Arizona. Hobbs beats his Republican rival and Trump ally Kari Lake.
The loss of Lake, a former television host and rising star of the “Make America Great Again” movement, is another blow to Donald Trump, who today could announce his candidacy for the 2024 presidential election. Lake was that the presidential election of 2020 would not have been won by Biden, but by Trump, a claim for which there has never been evidence.
Prominent members of the Republican party had also urged voters in Arizona not to vote for Lake. Liz Cheney, a noted Trump critic and daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, did, among others.
She was criticized by Lake, who cynically thanked Cheney in a letter for a TV commercial urging voters to ignore Lake. According to Lake, that would only lead to more campaign donations than her.
Cheney now has the final say on Twitter. “You’re welcome, Lake Kari”, to say them, with Lake’s “thank you letter” attached.
Call to unity
Lake’s loss follows the loss of two other high-profile vote-deniers in the state: Blake Masterscandidate for Senate, and Mark Finchem, candidate for Secretary of State, the highest official of a state.
Hobbs has since claimed victory: “Democracy is worth the wait,” She said them on Twitter. “Thank you, Arizona. I am so honored and so proud to be your next governor.” Hobbs also called for the unit and said it would work for all Arizona residents, including those who didn’t vote for it.
Lake still doesn’t want to admit his loss and quits Chirping: “Arizonas know bullshit when they see it.”
Fight for a majority in the lower house
Arizona was once a majority Republican state, but recent history has changed. Hobbs succeeds Republican Gov. Doug Ducey, who was unable to run for re-election.
The battle for control of the House of Representatives, the lower house of the US Congress, is still formally undecided. Republicans need at least 218 out of 435 seats to claim the majority. The party needs an extra seat.
It became clear this past weekend that Democrats will lose their narrow majority in the US Senate for the next two years keep. Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto won the election in Nevada. A second round will follow in Georgia State in early December, but it’s no longer a decider.
