Kari Lake Reportedly in Talks to Join Conservative News Network
Kari Lake is reportedly engaged in "active negotiations" with Newsmax following her loss in the Arizona Senate race, according to information obtained by Mediaite.
Lake, a former local news anchor turned outspoken Trump supporter, is said to be discussing an on-camera role with the conservative outlet, sources have indicated.
Before her emergence as a prominent conservative figure, Lake spent more than 20 years anchoring at Phoenix’s Fox 10 TV station. After leaving the network, she became a staunch ally of Donald Trump and pursued a bid for Arizona governor in 2022. She ultimately lost to now-Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs, who notably declined to debate her during the campaign.
Following the election, Lake spent months contesting the results in parts of the state, citing irregularities and complaints at polling locations, though her efforts proved unsuccessful. A local election official whom she accused of contributing to her loss filed a defamation lawsuit over what they described as false claims. The case was recently settled for an undisclosed sum, as noted by Mediaite.
This year, Lake campaigned for a Senate seat but was defeated by Democratic Representative Ruben Gallego, falling short of Trump’s performance in the state during his presidential bids. While Lake has not formally conceded the race, she also has not launched any legal challenges regarding the outcome.
However, Mediaite reported that it could not independently verify whether talks between Lake and Newsmax are indeed occurring.
When asked for comment, Lake replied via text: “Get better sources.” Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Newsmax denied any discussions with Lake, stating, “We have had ZERO discussions with Kari Lake to join Newsmax.”
Representative Gallego, who has represented a Phoenix-area district for nearly ten years, will succeed outgoing Senator Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.). Sinema chose not to run for reelection after switching her political affiliation from Democrat to Independent last year, facing steep challenges to securing another term, The Hill reported.
Gallego had announced his candidacy against Sinema before she confirmed her decision not to seek reelection, temporarily placing Senate Democrats in a difficult position of deciding whom to back.
Highlighting his personal background, Gallego often emphasized his roots as the son of a single mother with family ties to Mexico and Colombia, as well as his service as a Marine, The Hill noted.
His victory marks a modest but meaningful gain for Democrats, who experienced a mixed outcome this election cycle. While they managed to defend Senate seats in key battlegrounds such as Nevada, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Arizona, they suffered losses in Ohio, Montana, and West Virginia, with Pennsylvania also looking unfavorable. Additionally, they lost control of the White House, and their prospects for holding the House are dwindling.
Gallego’s campaign faced scrutiny regarding his record and shifting stances on issues like immigration and border policy. Critics highlighted past statements, including his remarks calling Donald Trump’s border wall “stupid” and “dumb.”
Though previously a member of the House Progressive Caucus, Gallego allowed his membership to lapse, citing dues as the reason. Republicans sought to nationalize the Senate race, running ads linking Gallego to high-profile Democrats such as Vice President Kamala Harris and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).
Meanwhile, Arizona saw Trump win the state in this election cycle, reversing his 2020 loss to Joe Biden after having won there in 2016.
As NBC News noted last week, “The once firmly GOP-controlled state has put into office a Democratic governor, two Democratic senators, and other statewide elected officials” in recent elections.
The outlet added that a “fast-growing Latino population and a revolt against Trump among some old-line Republicans put the once-red state into battleground territory. And Biden’s 2020 win in Arizona was just the second time in 28 years that Arizona’s electoral votes went to the Democratic presidential nominee.”