Former Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey backs Kari Lake, Trump despite past criticism

Former Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) said Tuesday he would put his “differences aside” to vote for former President Trump and Senate candidate Kari Lake (R) in November, despite previous tensions with both individuals.

“Much is on the line this election year & I’m encouraging all eligible Arizonans to vote & prioritize the issues that most affect our state & nation,” Ducey said in a statement.

“I will be voting for Republicans up & down the ballot in November — and both Donald Trump and Kari Lake have my endorsement,” he added.

Ducey, who left office in 2023, cited border security, school choice, the extension of the Trump-era tax cuts and inflation as the issues that played a role in his endorsement.

Lake is set to run against Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) in November, while Trump is set to face off against Vice President Harris.

Ducey previously was at odds with both candidates. He endorsed Republican Karrin Taylor Robson in a primary against Lake in the 2022 gubernatorial election, warning that Lake was “misleading voters with no evidence” with her repeated claims that the 2020 election was fraudulent. Lake eventually lost the gubernatorial election to Democrat Katie Hobbs.

Trump, meanwhile, repeatedly pressured Ducey following the 2020 election over the state’s results that showed President Biden narrowly winning Arizona. The Washington Post has reported that Trump called Ducey and encouraged him to find the votes to overcome his deficit in the state.

A Decision Desk HQ/The Hill average of polls in Arizona shows Trump leading Harris by 1.3 percentage points, while in the Senate race the polling average shows Gallego ahead of Lake by roughly 6 percentage points.