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Kari Lake wins GOP primary for closely watched Arizona Senate race, will face Gallego in November

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Kari Lake wins GOP primary for closely watched Arizona Senate race, will face Gallego in November
News

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Kari Lake wins GOP primary for closely watched Arizona Senate race, will face Gallego in November

2024-07-31 14:58 Last Updated At:15:00

PHOENIX (AP) — Kari Lake won the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in Arizona on Tuesday, setting up a fierce battle against Democratic U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego for a seat that could be crucial to deciding Senate control.

In Maricopa County, which includes metro Phoenix and 60% of Arizona's voters, Republicans also were choosing between a slate of incumbents who have stood up to former President Donald Trump's lies about the 2020 election and challengers who claim it was stolen.

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Republican Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake speaks to supporters after being declared the winner in the Republican primary Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Republican Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake speaks to supporters after being declared the winner in the Republican primary Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Republican Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake smiles as she gives a supporter a fist bump after being declared the primary winner Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Republican Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake smiles as she gives a supporter a fist bump after being declared the primary winner Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Republican Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake speaks after being declared the primary winner Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Republican Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake speaks after being declared the primary winner Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Supporters of Republican Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake cheer as she speaks Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Supporters of Republican Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake cheer as she speaks Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Republican Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake waves to supporters as she arrives on stage after being declared the primary winner Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Republican Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake waves to supporters as she arrives on stage after being declared the primary winner Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Voters leave a precinct after casting their ballots in the state's primary election, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Sun City West, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Voters leave a precinct after casting their ballots in the state's primary election, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Sun City West, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

A precinct worker walks outside a voting location during the state's primary election, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Sun City West, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

A precinct worker walks outside a voting location during the state's primary election, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Sun City West, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

A voter leaves a precinct after casting their ballot in the state's primary election, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in El Mirage, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

A voter leaves a precinct after casting their ballot in the state's primary election, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in El Mirage, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Rosemary Abrami, 81, of Sun City West, Ariz., enters a voting precinct prior to dropping off her ballot in the state's primary election, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Sun City West, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Rosemary Abrami, 81, of Sun City West, Ariz., enters a voting precinct prior to dropping off her ballot in the state's primary election, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Sun City West, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

A voter walks to a voting precinct prior to casting his ballot in the state's primary election, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in El Mirage, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

A voter walks to a voting precinct prior to casting his ballot in the state's primary election, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in El Mirage, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

In this combination photo, Kari Lake speaks in Dallas, Aug. 5, 2022, left, and Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., is seen in the Capitol, July 14, 2022, in Washington. Lake is looking to easily win Arizona's Republican nomination for Senate. The primary Tuesday, July 30, will likely set up a fierce battle against Gallego, who is running unopposed in the Democratic primary for a crucial Senate race. In Maricopa County, Republicans will choose between a slate of incumbents who have stood up to former President Donald Trump's lies about the 2020 election and challengers who claim it was stolen. (AP Photo)

In this combination photo, Kari Lake speaks in Dallas, Aug. 5, 2022, left, and Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., is seen in the Capitol, July 14, 2022, in Washington. Lake is looking to easily win Arizona's Republican nomination for Senate. The primary Tuesday, July 30, will likely set up a fierce battle against Gallego, who is running unopposed in the Democratic primary for a crucial Senate race. In Maricopa County, Republicans will choose between a slate of incumbents who have stood up to former President Donald Trump's lies about the 2020 election and challengers who claim it was stolen. (AP Photo)

The primary will give insights about where the narrowly divided state is headed going into the final sprint of the 2024 election, when Arizona is central to the fight for control of the White House and Congress.

Gallego ran unopposed in the Democratic primary for Senate.

Accepting victory Tuesday night, Lake called Trump a “hero” and urged his supporters to back her as well.

“He can’t do this alone,” Lake said. “He needs backup in Washington, D.C. And I’m going to be his backup.”

The once-crowded field of Republicans looking at the Senate race thinned out when Lake, who built a national profile in Trump's “Make America Great Again” movement in an unsuccessful 2022 bid for Arizona governor, made clear she planned to run for the seat.

Lake defeated Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, who had contended he is more electable and the best candidate to secure the border. But he struggled to raise the money needed to make his case to voters. Through the end of June, Lake had raised $10.3 million compared with Lamb's $2 million.

Lake faces Gallego in the race to replace Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, who was elected as a Democrat in 2018 but left the party to become an independent after her standing among the Democratic base cratered. Sinema considered running as an independent but opted against it.

Lake entered politics after leaving the news anchor desk at the Phoenix Fox affiliate and quickly became a rising star on the right. Grassroots Republicans were drawn to her biting critiques of her former colleagues in the news media, her tough talk on border security and her unwavering support for Trump, who for a time considered her for his running mate.

“Go vote,” Trump urged supporters in a telephone rally with Lake on Monday evening. “She’s fantastic. She will not let us down. Kari Lake, I just think she’s going to be as good as you can get. There’s nobody going to be better.”

She defeated an establishment-backed Republican in the 2022 primary for Arizona governor but narrowly lost the general election. Convinced she had victory in hand after winning the primary, Lake did not move toward the center or work to unify Republicans behind her.

This time, Lake made gestures toward unity, inviting people who didn't vote for her to join her. She said she will need “people from all walks of life" and told “traditional Republicans” from the GOP establishment that “we love you." But she also framed the general election as “a battle between good and evil” and between “the people who want to destroy this country and the people who want to save America.”

Gallego, she said, “is an extreme liberal Democrat from Chicago" who is aligned with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Since launching her Senate campaign late last year, Lake has made fitful efforts to moderate her most unpopular views but has not been consistent. She disavowed a near-total ban on abortion in Arizona, which she'd previously called “a great law,” but later spoke favorably for it.

She has at times steered clear of false claims of election fraud, but she continues trying to overturn her loss in the race for governor. Just this month she filed a longshot request for the Arizona Supreme Court to take up the issue, though the justices, all of whom were appointed by Republican governors, have already rejected her claims.

Meanwhile, Republican voters in Maricopa County got their first chance to oust elected officials who did not embrace Trump's and Lake's false claims that the 2020 and 2022 elections were rigged. Recorder Stephen Richer, one of the elected officials responsible for administering elections, has become a pariah on the right for aggressively defending the integrity of elections. Richer narrowly trailed Justin Heap, a state legislator backed by Lake.

Races for the county board of supervisors, which also plays a major role in running elections, were a mixed bag, with establishment-backed candidates winning in some districts while Republicans aligned with Trump's MAGA movement led elsewhere.

The feeling that elections are rigged against Republicans has permeated the Arizona GOP, though judges, election experts and Trump's own attorney general have repeatedly rejected claims of widespread fraud.

“I think that there’s primarily the discussion about how to do the elections and how to do them less corruptly,” said Barb Schwisow, a retired critical care nurse who sat outside a polling place at a table full of Republican pamphlets in Sun City West, a retirement community outside Phoenix.

Republicans also had an eclectic group of candidates vying to replace retiring GOP Rep. Debbie Lesko in a safe Republican district. The field includes Blake Masters and Abraham Hamadeh, one-time allies who have turned bitterly on each other since both lost campaigns in 2022. A state lawmaker indicted for his involvement in Trump's fake-elector scheme is also running, along with former Rep. Trent Franks, who resigned in 2017 when two aides said he sexually harassed them by asking them to carry a child through surrogacy. The race was too early to call.

On the Democratic side, two hotly contested U.S. House primaries in the Phoenix area also were too early to call.

The winner in the 1st Congressional District will face Republican Rep. David Schweikert to represent an affluent district centered in Scottsdale that exemplifies the changing makeup of the political parties.

Two Democrats are also facing off in a bitter primary in the 3rd District, a safe Democratic district that includes the heart of the west Phoenix Latino community. The Democratic nominee is strongly favored in November to replace Gallego.

Associated Press writer Anita Snow in Sun City West, Arizona, contributed to this report.

Follow the AP's coverage of the 2024 election at https://apnews.com/hub/election-2024.

Republican Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake speaks to supporters after being declared the winner in the Republican primary Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Republican Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake speaks to supporters after being declared the winner in the Republican primary Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Republican Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake smiles as she gives a supporter a fist bump after being declared the primary winner Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Republican Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake smiles as she gives a supporter a fist bump after being declared the primary winner Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Republican Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake speaks after being declared the primary winner Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Republican Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake speaks after being declared the primary winner Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Supporters of Republican Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake cheer as she speaks Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Supporters of Republican Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake cheer as she speaks Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Republican Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake waves to supporters as she arrives on stage after being declared the primary winner Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Republican Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake waves to supporters as she arrives on stage after being declared the primary winner Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Voters leave a precinct after casting their ballots in the state's primary election, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Sun City West, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Voters leave a precinct after casting their ballots in the state's primary election, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Sun City West, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

A precinct worker walks outside a voting location during the state's primary election, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Sun City West, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

A precinct worker walks outside a voting location during the state's primary election, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Sun City West, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

A voter leaves a precinct after casting their ballot in the state's primary election, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in El Mirage, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

A voter leaves a precinct after casting their ballot in the state's primary election, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in El Mirage, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Rosemary Abrami, 81, of Sun City West, Ariz., enters a voting precinct prior to dropping off her ballot in the state's primary election, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Sun City West, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Rosemary Abrami, 81, of Sun City West, Ariz., enters a voting precinct prior to dropping off her ballot in the state's primary election, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Sun City West, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

A voter walks to a voting precinct prior to casting his ballot in the state's primary election, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in El Mirage, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

A voter walks to a voting precinct prior to casting his ballot in the state's primary election, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in El Mirage, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

In this combination photo, Kari Lake speaks in Dallas, Aug. 5, 2022, left, and Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., is seen in the Capitol, July 14, 2022, in Washington. Lake is looking to easily win Arizona's Republican nomination for Senate. The primary Tuesday, July 30, will likely set up a fierce battle against Gallego, who is running unopposed in the Democratic primary for a crucial Senate race. In Maricopa County, Republicans will choose between a slate of incumbents who have stood up to former President Donald Trump's lies about the 2020 election and challengers who claim it was stolen. (AP Photo)

In this combination photo, Kari Lake speaks in Dallas, Aug. 5, 2022, left, and Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., is seen in the Capitol, July 14, 2022, in Washington. Lake is looking to easily win Arizona's Republican nomination for Senate. The primary Tuesday, July 30, will likely set up a fierce battle against Gallego, who is running unopposed in the Democratic primary for a crucial Senate race. In Maricopa County, Republicans will choose between a slate of incumbents who have stood up to former President Donald Trump's lies about the 2020 election and challengers who claim it was stolen. (AP Photo)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The Jacksonville Jaguars might not be done pursuing Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Liam Coen.

Jaguars owner Shad Khan fired general manager Trent Baalke on Wednesday, hours after Coen backed out of a scheduled in-person interview with team executives.

The franchise framed it as the owner and the GM agreeing to “respectfully separate, effective immediately." But a person familiar with the decision said Baalke was fired. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team and Baalke had hoped to keep details private.

Khan grew frustrated with the process when Coen, a 39-year-old, up-and-coming play-caller who had an impressive initial interview with the Jaguars, backed out of the second meeting and agreed to a new contract with the Buccaneers, the person said.

And since Baalke appeared to be the reason Coen — along with former Detroit offensive coordinator Ben Johnson — avoided Jacksonville, Khan chose to go in a different direction. No one should be surprised to see Khan circle back to Coen, who might reconsider with Baalke out of the picture.

“Following several discussions with Trent Baalke this week, we both arrived at the conclusion that it is in our mutual best interests to respectfully separate, effective immediately,” Khan said in a statement. “Trent leaves us with my deepest appreciation for his efforts over the past five seasons."

Ethan Waugh will serve as interim general manager and will “continue the process of interviewing candidates to serve as our new head coach,” Khan said.

Waugh worked under Baalke for 12 seasons (2005-16) in San Francisco. Will candidates be more apt to come to Jacksonville now or will Khan have to offer some reassurances that he plans to hire another GM in the near future?

Jacksonville had narrowed its search to Coen, Las Vegas defensive coordinator Patrick Graham and former New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh. Graham and Saleh are scheduled for in-person interviews on Thursday and Friday.

Johnson and Detroit defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn were among 10 candidates who initially interviewed with Jacksonville. But the duo took other jobs — Johnson with Chicago, Glenn with the New York Jets — without a sit-down with the Jaguars.

Khan insisted after firing Doug Pederson earlier this month that Baalke’s retention as GM would not affect the coaching search. He clearly was wrong.

“I am deeply committed to building a winner here in Jacksonville and look forward to introducing a new head coach who will make that happen for our players and fans alike,” Khan said.

The 60-year-old Baalke developed a less-than-spotless reputation around the league, and three of the five coaches he hired in San Francisco and Jacksonville — Jim Tomsula, Chip Kelly and Urban Meyer — had one-and-done tenures.

Baalke’s drafts were mixed. He hit on quarterback Trevor Lawrence, right tackle Anton Harrison and Brian Thomas Jr. in the first round. But he chose defensive end Travon Walker over Aidan Hutchinson and whiffed on first-rounder Devin Lloyd as well as several second-day picks: offensive tackle Walker Little, safety Andre Cisco, center Luke Fortner and linebacker Chad Muma.

His free-agent classes were equally spotty, with the latest one being among the least productive in team history.

The Jaguars committed more than $150 million, including roughly $90 million guaranteed, to sign seven free agents. The group included receiver Gabe Davis, journeyman cornerback Ronald Darby and oft-injured defensive lineman Arik Armstead. None of them made the Jags better.

Jaguars fans have long called for Baalke to get the boot. They even organized a “Klown Out” during the 2021 season finale to protest Khan’s decision to keep Baalke in place before he hired Pederson.

With Baalke gone, Jacksonville could double back on Buffalo offensive coordinator Joe Brady, Philadelphia offensive coordinator Kellen Moore and Kansas City defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. Under NFL rules, the earliest they can interview again is next week because their teams are in conference title games.

Nonetheless, the Jaguars (4-13) will move forward. The question now: how much more attractive is the job without Baalke in the mix?

They have a young quarterback (Lawrence) with upside, a budding star at receiver (Thomas), a few defensive building blocks (cornerback Tyson Campbell and pass rushers Walker and Josh Hines-Allen), a relatively new practice facility, a $1.4 billion stadium renovation upcoming and a hands-off owner with deep pockets.

They have the fifth overall draft pick in April and roughly $50 million in salary cap space for 2025, play in arguably the NFL’s weakest division (AFC South) and work in a state with plenty of sunshine and no income tax. They also went 3-10 in one-score games — an indication they could be a quick fix.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

FILE - Jacksonville Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Tuesday, March 1, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)

FILE - Jacksonville Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Tuesday, March 1, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)

FILE - Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan, left, and general manager Trent Baalke watch players during the NFL football team's rookie minicamp, Saturday, May 14, 2022, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)

FILE - Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan, left, and general manager Trent Baalke watch players during the NFL football team's rookie minicamp, Saturday, May 14, 2022, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)

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