Arizona Republican candidate for governor Kari Lake acknowledges the crowd at a rally prior to her speaking before former President Donald Trump in January 2022, in Florence, Arizona. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)
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The campaign for Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake has now spent at least $108,000 at the former president’s properties.
In April and May, Lake’s campaign dropped $18,000 at Mar-a-Lago for “event expenses,” according to a campaign report filed Friday. Lake’s campaign already had been among the biggest spenders at Trump properties, according to an analysis of federal and state campaign disclosures.
Trump endorsed Lake, a former news anchor of Fox’s Phoenix affiliate, in September. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and former football player Herschel Walker, who is running for the senate in Georgia, have also spent more than $100,000 of campaign money at Trump’s businesses. The former president endorsed them, too.
The director of fundraising for Lake’s campaign did not address a question about any connection between the spending and endorsement. “It’s called fundraising, and we have out-raised everyone in the race,” Lisa Dale said. “What do you expect these properties to do? Give us their services for free? That would be illegal and much more scandalous than just simply paying our bills when they are due. Why aren’t you writing about the other monies we have spent to fundraise at other properties? Because anything with the word Trump in it gets more clicks. We know how the game is played.”
Voting in Arizona’s primary ends Aug. 2. Polling shows Lake with a single-digit lead over her nearest opponent.
Spokespeople the Trump Organization did not respond to requests for comment.
Updated July 21, 2022: This article was updated to include a response from Lake’s campaign received after the article was first published.
Former President Donald Trump addressed Kari Lake’s donors at Mar-a-Lago in November.
INSTAGRAM/KARI LAKE