Republican U.S. Senate candidate Kari Lake, who has refused to concede her loss in the 2022 Arizona gubernatorial race, diverted attention to water issues during a debate Wednesday night, prompting swift criticism on social media. Lake narrowly lost the governor’s race to Democrat Katie Hobbs and has since pursued unsuccessful legal challenges, according to Politico.
Despite this, she has consistently refused to acknowledge her defeat, a point highlighted by her opponent during the debate. “She’s in denial about climate change,” stated Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) when addressing the debate moderators in Phoenix. “And we should not be surprised that she’s still in denial about the 2022 election. Will you finally tell the people of Arizona, did you win or lose that election?”
Instead of answering directly, Lake pivoted: “Can I talk about water really quickly?” she asked. “Because I thought we were going to do water.” Her response sparked immediate backlash online. Political commentator Brian Tyler Cohen tweeted, “Utter disaster for Kari Lake in tonight’s debate.” The Arizona Democratic Party also took to X (formerly Twitter), posting, “For the one millionth time Kari Lake refuses to admit she lost the 2022 election.”
However, Lake found support from within her party. Arizona GOP congressional candidate Abe Hamadeh defended her on social media, stating, “Watching the Arizona Senate debate it’s abundantly clear: [Kari Lake] is the most effective communicator in the Republican Party, and it’s exactly why the media, Democrats, and the crooks are scared of her.”
The debate, the first faceoff between the candidates, was broadcast live across Arizona, with the winner set to replace current Senator Kyrsten Sinema, who chose not to seek reelection after leaving the Democratic Party to become an independent.
The clash between Lake and Gallego extended beyond the debate stage. In a social media post following the debate, Gallego accused Lake of using “personal attacks” to distract from her stance on banning abortions. Lake fired back at X, writing, “Personal attacks? You sexually harassed a female coworker. Sit this one out, Ruben.” The heated exchange underscores the tense atmosphere surrounding the Arizona Senate race, as candidates vie for the open seat while revisiting past controversies.