Raised and educated in Iowa, longtime news anchor Kari Lake may become the next Governor of Arizona - America's 14th largest state.

Kari Lake, the Republican nominee, faces Democrat Secretary of State Katie Hobbs in an election with national implications and plenty of controversial positions.

Photo Credit: Kari Lake for Governor/Charlie Kirk YouTube Channel. Keith B. via Canva
Photo Credit: Kari Lake for Governor/Charlie Kirk YouTube Channel. Keith B. via Canva
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Kari Lake grew up in Iowa, graduated from North Scott Senior High School in Eldridge, Iowa, and then received a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications and journalism from the University of Iowa.

Photo Credit: Kari Lake for Governor/Charlie Kirk YouTube Channel.
Photo Credit: Kari Lake for Governor/Charlie Kirk YouTube Channel.
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In the early 1990s, Lake started broadcasting during college, working in the Quad Cities at KWQC TV in Davenport and WBHF in Rock Island. It wasn't long before she landed a job offer as the weekend anchor in Phoenix.

Photo Credit: Kari Lake for Governor/Charlie Kirk YouTube Channel.
Photo Credit: Kari Lake for Governor/Charlie Kirk YouTube Channel.
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Throughout a couple of decades working in Arizona, Lake made a name for herself and a reputation for her reporting, which was sometimes controversial and provocative. But, that's not particularly unusual in a business with strong personalities and big egos with a desire and necessity for attention.

Photo Credit: Kari Lake for Governor/Charlie Kirk YouTube Channel.
Photo Credit: Kari Lake for Governor/Charlie Kirk YouTube Channel.
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That sounds perfect for politics, so perhaps Lake is well-suited for her newest professional pursuits. But, while she's a camera-ready candidate, a Lake victory will be a big surprise as she's a political novice and holds some controversial positions as a strong Trump supporter.

Photo Credit: Kari Lake for Governor/Charlie Kirk YouTube Channel.
Photo Credit: Kari Lake for Governor/Charlie Kirk YouTube Channel.
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Current polling has the contest running even. It will be interesting to see how Arizona voters respond to Lake's strong support as a "Trump Republican." Additionally, she has carved out a position questioning the validity of the 2020 election results, but recent polling shows that 88% of Arizona republicans support her because of or despite the stance.

While Arizona has trended as a swing state in recent elections, conservative voters will likely be motivated by a strong Lake candidacy and her affiliation with Trump.

Photo Credit: Channel 12 News Youtube Channel
Photo Credit: Channel 12 News Youtube Channel
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Meanwhile, Katie Hobbs made her name in the aftermath of the 2020 race by defending the integrity of the Arizona election.

Winning candidates typically draw a clear and compelling contrast and control the narrative. Lake may be able to frame Hobbs as weak due to her refusal to debate.

Photo Credit: Kari Lake for Governor/Charlie Kirk YouTube Channel.
Photo Credit: Kari Lake for Governor/Charlie Kirk YouTube Channel.
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Plus, Lake's years as a familiar television anchor provide a strong foundation of name identification and support. It's been a proven formula for several elections for many TV news personalities wishing to parlay that notoriety into a political career.

We will soon find out if it's a solid enough strategy to propel Lake, the former Iowan, into the Arizona Governor's office.

 

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