Kari Lake
Kari Lake
AZ-01 Republican nominee?
$19.2K
JUL 22, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleOther
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyTrump-aligned Republican
Age56 years old (Aug 23, 1969)
GenderFemale
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BackgroundTelevision news anchor
EducationUniversity of Iowa (B.A., communication and journalism)
Notable personal detailsKari Lake (Kari Lake Halperin) is an American political figure and former television news anchor who spent decades in broadcast journalism in Arizona, including as an evening anchor for KSAZ-TV (Fox 10 Phoenix). She has run for statewide office in Arizona, including as the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in 2024 and previously as the Republican nominee for governor in 2022. She earned a bachelor’s degree in communication and journalism from the University of Iowa.
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Economy & Taxes
Supports tax cuts and reducing government spending; has proposed eliminating local taxes on groceries and rent, backing preservation of Trump-era federal tax cuts, and advocating limits on budget growth. Emphasizes lowering costs for families and reducing regulatory burden to spur economic growth.
Healthcare
The candidate calls for repealing the Affordable Care Act and replacing it with market-based alternatives, emphasizes open-market competition and reduced federal spending on health programs, and has opposed COVID-19 vaccine mandates. She has also advocated large federal spending cuts that commentators say would affect Medicare and Medicaid.
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Immigration & Border
Supports finishing construction of the border wall, expanding state and law-enforcement resources at the southern border (including National Guard and deputized personnel), and tightening asylum laws and processing to reduce unauthorized entries. Advocates rapid enforcement measures and expanded removal/prosecution capacity rather than expanded legal pathways or broad regularization. Emphasizes border security as a primary priority and blames federal policies for perceived increases in crime and migration.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
The candidate has repeatedly shifted positions but currently supports significant restrictions on abortion while allowing exceptions; she opposes a federal abortion ban and has at times backed a 15-week limit and exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother. Previously she expressed support for an 1864 Arizona law that would have banned nearly all abortions except to save the mother, but later softened that stance publicly before reiterating support for restrictions.
Climate & Energy
The candidate expresses skepticism about human-caused climate trends and opposes aggressive climate regulation. She advocates expanded fossil fuel production (e.g., “drill, baby, drill”), supports opening U.S. oil reserves and exploration, and promotes natural gas and nuclear as energy priorities. Her public statements and campaign materials emphasize boosting fossil-fuel development over major emissions-cutting programs.
Public Safety & Guns
Kari Lake consistently expresses strong pro–Second Amendment positions, opposing red flag laws, magazine-capacity limits, and gun-free zones while encouraging armed self-defense. She has made public remarks endorsing carrying firearms and urged supporters to be prepared with guns for protection and political conflict.
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 20262024
2026
LatestCycle 2024
Cycle 2026
Source: FEC
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We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
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