As the midterm elections kick into high gear, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin is reportedly poised to stump for Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake later this month.
Youngkin’s planned backing of Lake comes as part of a larger midterm election blitz in which he plans to flex his political might to rally support for GOP hopefuls in battleground states as the midterm elections enter the homestretch, Politico reported.
GOP HEAVY HITTERS STUMP FOR REPUBLICANS IN MIDTERM HOMESTRETCH
“Republicans make better governors than Democrats. Gov. Doug Ducey championed hallmark education reforms and the state’s largest tax cut during his term. Arizona deserves another Republican governor,” Youngkin said in a statement to the Washington Examiner.
So far, Youngkin’s campaign stops have included Nevada, Colorado, and Michigan, with plans to traverse Kansas later this week, per the report. However, his support of Lake marks one of the most nationally renowned MAGA-aligned candidates Youngkin has courted support for during the midterm election cycle.
He will reportedly host fundraising and political events, according to the outlet. An unabashed supporter of former President Donald Trump and promulgator of 2020 election denialism, Lake generally pulls from different corners of the conservative movement than Youngkin.
Youngkin won the governorship in a heated battle with former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) last year in the traditionally blue state of Virginia. He campaigned heavily on opposition to stiff COVID-19 suppression measures, particularly in schools, to help peel off suburban parents from the Democrats.
His victory in the off-year election sparked speculation that Republicans would surf the red wave in the midterm elections in 2022.
Lake, by contrast, is running for governor in a traditionally red state that has begun morphing purple. Once the dominant party, the GOP no longer has either of the two Senate seats in the state, lost the most recent presidential election, and barely holds the majority in the state legislature.
She won her heated GOP gubernatorial primary narrowly with the backing of Trump, while former Vice President Mike Pence and outgoing Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey backed Karrin Taylor Robson. Ducey has since backed Lake after she won the GOP nod, as uneasy Republicans have begun to coalesce around her ahead of the midterm elections.
Youngkin contends that it is paramount to support Republican gubernatorial candidates. His breakthrough in Virginia has garnered speculation that he could harbor 2024 ambitions.
“Republican governors are leading the country. Just look at how well red states are doing compared to blue states. Red states are seeing better economic recovery post-pandemic, safer communities, and education systems that empower parents and put students first. There’s no doubt about it,” he said in a statement, which did not address his specific Arizona campaign plans.
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Lake currently touts a 1-point edge over Democratic contender Katie Hobbs, according to the latest Real Clear Politics polling aggregate. Other speculated 2024 hopefuls, such as Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, have rallied in support of Lake as heavyweight Republicans embark on a national campaign tour ahead of the midterm elections.
Earlier this year, Youngkin launched two political action committees and has appeared at national conservative events as he continues to build his conservative brand. The Washington Examiner reached out to a Lake representative for comment.
