Kari Lake asserts that her attention remains on her campaign for Arizona governor and not on a candidacy for vice president in 2024.
The Republican candidate narrowly lost her race against Democrat Katie Hobbs in the fall and has petitioned the Arizona Supreme Court to declare the Maricopa County election results unconstitutional due to wrongdoing.
Former President Donald Trump, who is vying for the Republican nomination for president in 2024, has been linked to Lake as a possible running mate. She topped a straw poll at the recent Conservative Political Action Conference and was on a list of four women Trump would choose if he wins the Republican primary, according to one news source.
Nonetheless, Lake stated that despite her strong support for Trump, she is primarily focused on Arizona.
“I am 100 percent dedicated to serving as Arizona Governor. I will also work to make sure President Trump gets back in the White House ASAP,” she said in a statement to the U.K.’s Daily Mail, the outlet reported Tuesday.
“Anything outside of those two goals is nothing but a distraction,” Lake said.
Lake stated that altering America’s course must occur outside of Washington, D.C.
“Our best days are ahead of us and it all starts with electing America-First candidates all across this country,” she said.
We were so honored to have some of the strongest leaders in our movement, including @KariLake, speak at CPAC this year!
WATCH Kari’s full Day 3 speech here ⤵️ https://t.co/UqXESLtpFC
— CPAC (@CPAC) March 8, 2023
Her campaign account responded humorously to the running mate question following the CPAC straw poll.
“We’re flattered, but unfortunately our legal team says the Constitution won’t allow for her to serve as Governor and VP at the same time,” Kari Lake War Room tweeted Saturday.
BREAKING: Out of 30 contenders, @KariLake wins @CPAC straw poll for Vice President.
We’re flattered, but unfortunately our legal team says the Constitution won’t allow for her to serve as Governor and VP at the same time. pic.twitter.com/gFV3z3wtxB
— Kari Lake War Room (@KariLakeWarRoom) March 4, 2023
Axios reported on Tuesday that Trump considered Lake “as a model for his vice presidential selection,” should he be nominated.
As potential running mates, the website also included former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley, Arkansas governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, and South Dakota governor Kristi Noem.
Haley, a candidate for the Republican candidacy in 2024, served as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations during the Trump administration, whereas Sanders was Trump’s press secretary.
Trump spokesman Steven Cheung dismissed the report, telling Axios, “Anyone who thinks they know what President Trump is going to do is seriously misinformed and trying to curry favor with ‘potential’ V.P. candidates.”
Wednesday’s hypothetical NPR story claimed that Noem may be a prospective presidential contender, but noted that a vice presidential post would be more likely if she pursues a national political career.
“I’m focused on doing my job here in South Dakota,” Noem said earlier this year when Fox News asked her about a 2024 campaign for president.
“I’m focused here, but I’m going to continue telling South Dakota’s stories,” she said.
Haley and Mike Pompeo, a future presidential contender and former secretary of state in the Trump administration, are vying for the 2020 nomination. Speculation about the 2024 election arises in the midst of this political jockeying.
According to the Washington Examiner, Pompeo’s new book, “Never Give an Inch: Fighting for the America I Love” alleges Haley wanted to be Trump’s 2020 running partner. Haley has refuted the assertion.
“First of all, Pompeo wrote about something he heard from someone else. Can we just start there?” Haley said Tuesday on the “Ruthless” podcast.
“The second thing I’ll tell you is, look, I was a damn good U.N. ambassador, and every secretary of state hated it.”