Republican Kari Lake has lost an Arizona appeals court challenge regarding the verification of mail ballot signatures in the 2022 governor election. The court upheld a judge’s finding that Lake failed to prove inconsistencies in signatures were neglected in Maricopa County, where over 60% of voters reside. Lake, a former television news anchor, is now running for U.S. Senate and is considered the GOP frontrunner. Her attorney, Bryan James Blehm, did not respond to inquiries about the decision or potential appeal to the Arizona Supreme Court.
Despite losing the governor election to Democrat Katie Hobbs by more than 17,000 votes, Lake has refused to acknowledge her defeat and has promoted former President Donald Trump’s false claims of election theft. She has also faced multiple court challenges and criticisms for her handling of the election results. Presiding Appeals Court Judge Sean Brearcliffe highlighted in the ruling that Lake argued over 8,000 ballots were not counted due to alleged malfunctions, but even if all of those votes had been for her, it would not have changed the outcome.
Lake’s campaign for U.S. Senate is focused on challenging Democratic U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego in the November election for the seat currently held by independent Kyrsten Sinema. Sinema is not seeking a second term, leaving the seat open for contention by multiple candidates. Lake’s persistence in disputing the 2022 governor election results and her alignment with Trump’s beliefs have made her a polarizing figure in Arizona politics. Her efforts to challenge the election verification process have not been successful, leading to further scrutiny from critics.
The State Bar of Arizona recently imposed sanctions on Lake’s attorney, Bryan James Blehm, for making false representations to the state Supreme Court while handling Lake’s election challenges. Blehm’s 60-day suspension is set to take effect on July 7, raising questions about the credibility of the legal arguments presented on behalf of Lake. The ongoing legal battles and controversies surrounding Lake’s campaign have added complexity to the upcoming U.S. Senate race in Arizona, with the primary scheduled for July 30.
Despite the setbacks in court and the challenges to the mail ballot verification process, Lake remains determined to pursue her political ambitions and challenge the status quo in Arizona politics. Her alignment with Trump’s narrative on the 2020 election and her refusal to accept the results of the 2022 governor election have solidified her position as a controversial figure in the Republican Party. As the U.S. Senate race heats up in Arizona, Lake’s campaign will continue to face scrutiny and criticism from opponents and critics who question her credibility and motives in seeking public office.
