Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs is projected to be the state’s next governor after defeating Republican challenger Kari Lake, according to the Associated Press.
Hobbs leads Lake by more than 20,000 votes on Tuesday morning with just about 15,000 left to count.
Lake had cut Hobbs lead from double-digits on election night to under 1% but ultimately failed to gain enough ground to win.
Lake, a former news anchor, had been one of former President Donald Trump’s staunchest supporters and repeatedly pushed false claims about the election.
Lake has pushed conspiracy theories about the vote-counting in Arizona’s Maricopa County and on Monday night posted a tweet suggesting she may not accept her defeat.
“Arizonans know BS when they see it,” she wrote.
Hobbs celebrates:
“I am honored to have been selected to serve as the next Governor of Arizona,” Hobbs said in a statement after the race was called. “I want to thank the voters for entrusting me with this immense responsibility. It is truly an honor of a lifetime, and I will do everything in my power to make you proud. I want to thank my family, our volunteers, and campaign staff. Without all of your hard work, passion, and sacrifice this night would not be possible. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
“For the Arizonans who did not vote for me, I will work just as hard for you -because even in this moment of division, I believe there is so much more that connects us. We all want safer streets, a secure border, better schools, lower costs, and water for generations to come. This was not just about an election – it was about moving this state forward and facing the challenges of our generation. It is about giving our kids the safe and prosperous future they deserve, while letting our seniors live out their golden years with dignity.”
Bad week for Arizona GOP:
Lake’s loss underscores the shift toward the Democrats in a previously solid red state.
Hobbs’ narrow win marks a 15-point swing from Republican Gov. Doug Ducey’s double-digit win in 2018.
Trump-backed Senate candidate Blake Masters also lost his race to incumbent Sen. Mark Kelly.
Mark Finchem, the Trump-backed candidate for secretary of state, lost his race as well.
“We are not conceding and are fighting,” Finchem said on Twitter.
“Something is terribly wrong in Arizona," he said in another post.
