EXCLUSIVE — Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) will back Kari Lake for her Arizona Senate bid on Tuesday, marking the latest endorsement in the high-profile race as Senate Republicans coalesce around her candidacy in the battleground state.
“Joe Biden and Senate Democrats have made America less safe and we are in a fight for the soul of our nation,” Schmitt said in a statement. “The Senate Majority runs through Arizona, and I am excited to endorse Kari Lake for Senate. She will fight to secure the border and put America First. Her opponent is a Far-Left Democrat who would vote with Chuck Schumer 100 percent of the time. Kari will be a voice for Arizona.”
At least 25 Republican senators have endorsed Lake’s campaign in Arizona, where she is set to face Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) in what is considered one of the most competitive Senate races of the 2024 cycle. The race has been deemed a toss-up by the nonpartisan CookPoliticalReport, and polling shows the two candidates as being neck and neck.
The latest endorsement comes after Lake made a visit to Capitol Hill last week in a bid to shore up more support among fellow Republicans, with more endorsements likely expected in the coming weeks. Lake also met with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) last week, although the Republican candidate declined to share details about the conversation.
Lake praised Schmitt for his backing, touting his voting record on the economy and border.
“Senator Schmitt is a conservative warrior who has stood up to Joe Biden’s radical agenda on spending, the border, and endless wars,” Lake said. “I am grateful for his support and endorsement. I look forward to working with Senator Schmitt to implement America First policies in the Senate.”
The Senate race in Arizona could be one of Republicans’ best opportunities to seize control of the upper chamber next year. Recent polling shows Lake leading Gallego by 1 point in a head-to-head race, 46% to 45%, according to a survey conducted by Public Policy Polling.
The race has become even more competitive since incumbent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) announced last week she would not be running for reelection, solidifying the race as a head-to-head contest between Lake and Gallego.
Lake’s allies have also pointed to former President Donald Trump’s polling in Arizona against President Joe Biden as a good sign for her campaign. Lake has closely aligned herself with the former president, and Trump has endorsed her candidacy.Â
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
There are 34 Senate seats up for grabs in the 2024 election cycle. Of these, Democrats must defend 23, compared to just 11 for Republicans — and nearly all competitive seats are held by Democrats, putting them on the defensive as they try to maintain their slim majority.
Democrats hold a 51-49 majority in the Senate, with the advantage of having Vice President Kamala Harris as a tiebreaker vote if needed. As a result, Republicans only need to flip one Senate seat to win the majority should they win back the White House in 2024. If they don’t regain the Oval Office, they need to secure two extra Senate seats.
