Lake nabs endorsements from Ernst, Risch, Cornyn in Arizona Senate race

Arizona Senate hopeful Kari Lake (R) earned the support of three additional GOP senators Friday in the race to unseat Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) in the Grand Canyon State.

Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), in her endorsement, said the state needs someone “who will fight” for border security. She argued that Lake would do “just that.”

“Arizona has been hit hard by Joe Biden’s border crisis and reckless spending that has led to high inflation,” Ernst wrote in a statement. “Arizona deserves a Senator who will fight to secure the border, lower prices, and restore safe streets in our communities.”

“I know Kari Lake will do just that,” she added. “I am excited to endorse Kari for U.S. Senate in Arizona.”

Sen. James Risch (R-Idaho) echoed Ernst’s praise of Lake, claiming he is “proud” to put his support behind the former news anchor.

“Joe Biden and Senate Democrats have made America less safe, secure, and prosperous. Arizona needs a Senator who will fight for the American Dream,” he wrote. “I am PROUD to endorse Kari Lake for Senate in Arizona. She will fight to secure America’s future.” 

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) took aim at President Biden’s and Lake’s closest rival in the state, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), in announcing his support for Lake.

“Joe Biden and Ruben Gallego have destroyed our economy, made our streets less safe, and failed to secure the border,” he wrote in his endorsement. “Kari Lake will get our economy back on track and finish the border wall. I am proud to endorse her for Senate in Arizona.”

Lake showed her gratitude to the senators in a statement following the news.

“I am honored to receive the endorsements of Senators Risch, Ernst and Cornyn. All three are people of integrity who have stood up for American strength and freedom,” she wrote. “I look forward to winning the Senate seat in Arizona and working alongside them to put America First!”

Lake has previously snagged endorsements from at least nine other Senate Republicans, including Sens. J.D. Vance (Ohio), Marsha Blackburn (Tenn.), Steve Daines (Mont.), Rand Paul (Ky.), Bill Haggerty (Tenn.), Roger Marshall (Ks.), Tom Cotton (Ark.), Tommy Tuberville (Ala.) and John Barrasso (Wyo.). A handful of House Republicans have also thrown their support behind Lake.

She has also secured the endorsement of the Senate Republicans’ campaign arm.

Despite that support, Gallego is leading Lake and Sinema — who has not yet announced if she is running for reelection — in a hypothetical three-way race, according to a recent poll from Emerson College Polling/The Hill.

Lake was also endorsed by former President Trump, the GOP front-runner in the presidential race, in October. She has said she would be “honored” if he joined her on the campaign trail.

The nonpartisan election handicapper Cook Political Report has rated the Arizona Senate seat as a “toss up.”