Kali Lake expresses dissatisfaction with election as Republican leaders urge them to move on

Watch coverage of the Arizona Senate race on CNN’s “Inside Politics Sunday with Manu Raju” at 11 a.m. ET.

Republican leaders advised Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake to avoid complaining about past elections and center her campaign on a more positive message.

She doesn’t take that advice at all.

Although Lake said he was more worried about his upcoming battle with Democratic candidate Rep. Ruben Gallego, the former television broadcaster still said he was still adamant about Donald Trump when asked about the issue on the campaign trail. He is not afraid to repeat former President Trump’s election conspiracy theories. A key Senate seat in a battleground state.

In a wide-ranging interview with CNN last week, Lake continued to insist there were “serious problems” in his failed gubernatorial race and falsely claimed the 2020 election was “rigged.” .

“I think it was a fraudulent election. … I think it was. But what I’m trying to do is move forward,” she said in an interview. The interview will be aired on Sunday’s “Inside Politics” with Manu Raju. “I keep talking about this while I’m campaigning in Arizona. …When I’m campaigning, people are really interested in it.

“I believe that every voter, whether you are the most liberal Democrat or the most conservative Republican, understands that your legal vote matters and that when you go to bed on election night you actually “We want honest elections where we know the results,” she added. “We can accept the outcome because we believe the process was fair. And that’s not what we have now.”

Mr. Trump’s claims that the election was “stolen” have been rejected not only by the courts but also by many officials within his administration and campaign. And Lake lost his own race to Democrat Katie Hobbs by more than 17,000 votes. The main reason for this is that some people on their ballots voted for Republican candidates in other races. I didn’t vote for Lake..

But even as she vows to move on, Lake continues to repeat the same election denialism that has been central to her identity as a MAGA agitator. Even so, the Republican establishment may urge her to soften her rhetoric ahead of a key campaign this fall.

Sen. Steve Daines (Montana), the top Republican campaign manager in the Senate, told CNN before Lake announced his candidacy that he encouraged him to be upfront about his future.

“One of the things we learned from 2022 is that voters don’t want to hear about past grievances,” said Daines, who endorsed Lake’s bid last month. “They want to hear what you’re going to do in the future. And if our candidates keep the message of looking down the highway, not in the rearview mirror, they want to hear what you’re going to do in the future, especially the independent voters who usually decide elections.” I think we can have greater success in appealing to the public.”

Wyoming Republican Sen. John Barrasso also supported Lake and helped guide her around the U.S. Capitol last week, telling CNN: “Keep talking about what people in Arizona are talking about. It’s the border, and it’s a horribly messed up mess.”

Asked if he still believed his race was stolen, Lake began talking about immigration and borders. But he never cast unfounded doubt on Arizona’s 2022 election results, even though other Republican candidates won statewide that year.

“There were major issues with the election, and we are working diligently to resolve those issues. We still have some cases outstanding,” Lake said. “My concern about the future of the next election is that my radical opponents are trying to give the right to vote to 9 to 12 million people who illegally entered our country. He wants everyone to vote. That’s wrong.”

Gallego last year voted to protect a D.C. law that allows an estimated 50,000 non-citizens, including undocumented immigrants and diplomats, to vote in local elections.But the Democrats say Lake’s rhetoric on the border reflects the theory of far-right parties seeking to gain electoral advantage by intentionally allowing immigrants into the country.

Asked for comment by CNN, Gallego introduced his fellow State of the Union guests, both of whom served in Iraq with the congressman, and said, “Marine veterans are not extremists.”

Asked for further comment, a spokesperson for the Gallego campaign said in a statement to CNN that Lake “will say anything to gain power, including banning abortion and challenging the results of the 2020 and 2022 elections.” I will do it.”

“She disrespects our war heroes, embraces the traitors who attacked police on January 6th, and fails to unite people to solve our most pressing problems. Arizona deserves better.” said spokeswoman Hannah Goss.

CNN’s Manu Raju contributed to this report.