US News

Republican Governor Primary Tightens As Pence-Backed Candidate Gains Ground

Karrin Taylor Robson gained ground on her Trump-backed rival Kari Lake on Sunday in the lead-up to Tuesday’s GOP gubernatorial primary in Arizona, according to an Emerson poll released on Sunday.

The latest polling of Republican voters from July 28 – July 30 shows former TV anchor Lake with 46% support, while real estate attorney Robson has 47% support, Emerson poll data showed. For weeks, Lake has averaged a 10-point lead over her rival in the polls, according to RealClear Politics.

The competition between Robson and Lake has intensified in the weeks leading up to the primary, as Robson poured millions in negative ads against Lake into the Arizona airwaves, according to RealClear Politics. Robson has attempted toher opponent as “Fake Lake” after several controversies called Lake’s commitment to conservative principles into question.

Robson campaign spokesperson Matthew Benson told the Daily Caller News Foundation the campaign feels confident heading into Tuesday’s primary.

“We know the race is close,” Benson said. “The Emerson polls are consistent with our internal polling. We are facing an uphill battle against an opponent with mainstream recognition.”

Lake was a registered Democrat from 2006-2012 and supported President Obama during his 2008 election, according to 12News. Lake told 12News she had grown disenchanted with the GOP during the Bush years because of the “endless wars” in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, Lake returned to the Republican party in 2012, and she has portrayed herself as a Trump loyalist since the start of the campaign in 2021, RealClear Politics reported.

Benson said the campaign expects a strong showing with mail-in ballots, which are especially popular among older voters.

The election is a proxy battle between Trump and former Vice-President Mike Pence, who has endorsed Robson, for the direction of the Republican Party, RealClear Politics reported. Lake has sought to model her campaign on Trump’s brand of populist fervor, fighting back against the “fake news” media and her “establishment-backed” opponent.

Lake’s campaign did not respond to the DCNF’s request for comment.

The Emerson poll was conducted with a sample size of 600 likely Republican voters and had a margin of error 3.9%.

Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org

Josh Hypes

Share
Published by
Josh Hypes

Recent Posts

Meet The Former Biden DOJ Official Who Jumped Ship To Prosecute Trump

One of the prosecutors working on Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s case against former President…

5 hours ago

Biden’s Former ‘Disinformation’ Czar Teams Up With Liberal Operatives For New Gig

Nina Jankowicz, previously the head of the Biden administration’s ill-fated “Disinformation Governance Board,” is teaming…

5 hours ago

Joe Biden’s Orwellian “Good People on both Sides” Moment

“Thought crimes [in George Orwell’s novel 1984] are things that some ideology deems it wrong…

6 hours ago

Tesla Reports One Of Its Worst Quarters In Years In Latest Sign Of Trouble For EV Market

Tesla disclosed a shaky earnings report to the public on Tuesday in the latest sign…

6 hours ago

Biden Vowed To Protect American Steel — But Another Effort Of His Could Destroy It

President Joe Biden in recent days has taken a harsh stance on foreign steel manufacturers…

6 hours ago