Will This Former Iowan Be Elected the Next Arizona Governor?
Raised and educated in Iowa, longtime news anchor Kari Lake may become the next Governor of Arizona - America's 14th largest state.
Kari Lake, the Republican nominee, faces Democrat Secretary of State Katie Hobbs in an election with national implications and plenty of controversial positions.
Kari Lake grew up in Iowa, graduated from North Scott Senior High School in Eldridge, Iowa, and then received a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications and journalism from the University of Iowa.
In the early 1990s, Lake started broadcasting during college, working in the Quad Cities at KWQC TV in Davenport and WBHF in Rock Island. It wasn't long before she landed a job offer as the weekend anchor in Phoenix.
Throughout a couple of decades working in Arizona, Lake made a name for herself and a reputation for her reporting, which was sometimes controversial and provocative. But, that's not particularly unusual in a business with strong personalities and big egos with a desire and necessity for attention.
That sounds perfect for politics, so perhaps Lake is well-suited for her newest professional pursuits. But, while she's a camera-ready candidate, a Lake victory will be a big surprise as she's a political novice and holds some controversial positions as a strong Trump supporter.
Current polling has the contest running even. It will be interesting to see how Arizona voters respond to Lake's strong support as a "Trump Republican." Additionally, she has carved out a position questioning the validity of the 2020 election results, but recent polling shows that 88% of Arizona republicans support her because of or despite the stance.
While Arizona has trended as a swing state in recent elections, conservative voters will likely be motivated by a strong Lake candidacy and her affiliation with Trump.
Meanwhile, Katie Hobbs made her name in the aftermath of the 2020 race by defending the integrity of the Arizona election.
Winning candidates typically draw a clear and compelling contrast and control the narrative. Lake may be able to frame Hobbs as weak due to her refusal to debate.
Plus, Lake's years as a familiar television anchor provide a strong foundation of name identification and support. It's been a proven formula for several elections for many TV news personalities wishing to parlay that notoriety into a political career.
We will soon find out if it's a solid enough strategy to propel Lake, the former Iowan, into the Arizona Governor's office.
Recent Polling Shows a Dead Heat in the Race for Arizona Governor