Kari Lake: The Fight Continues
Editors’ Note: The Prickly Pear presents two opposing opinions and sides about the outcome of the 2022 Arizona Governor’s race. It is the belief of this publication that multiple factors were at play in the outcome of the election. The voters should always determine the candidates in their respective party via the primary process and the candidates selected by voters are the choice to be made in the general election by the voters. The fundamental question that should be asked is what can be done to prevent election debacles in the future.
That said, those responsible for the conduct of the election in Maricopa County – the County Recorder (Stephen Richer), the County Supervisors (Bill Gates, et al), and the Secretary of State (Katie Hobbs) were incompetent, dishonest, corrupt or a combination of all three. The Maricopa County 2022 election was severely compromised regardless of how and appropriately became the laughing stock of the nation for election integrity. We are concerned on all of these levels and very concerned about the integrity of the coming 2024 election given this history and the many questions the public are asking.
Obviously election integrity must be addressed and fixed with the appropriate legislative actions. Citizens should be aroused, angry and insistent on repair of election mechanics and replacement of those managing our elections. As referred to below, the GOP Chair, Kelli Ward, got involved inappropriately by supporting Kari Lake during the primary race. The GOP Chairs at the state and national levels have no business in doing this – it is up to the voters to select their candidate for the November general election, not the Chair. Kelli Ward should step down or be defeated in the coming election for state GOP Chair if only for this reason.
Regardless of how one feels about Kari Lake, she certainly is a fighter. Her battle in court, if she is heard, could further explain the odd outcomes in recent elections. Hopefully, this will lead to changes in both law and procedures in Maricopa County.
Some contend she is a delusional loser, who just won’t admit defeat. She lost because she alienated Republican voters. A good example of that view is expressed in the first video presented. It is true she did get fewer votes than some other Republican candidates.
It is entirely possible that a split between McCain and MAGA forces within the party cost Lake votes. It is also possible, and in fact probable, that the primary battle between Lake and Robson, aggravated by the bias during the primary by GOP Chair Kelli Ward, also was a factor.
But as the second interview suggests, the loss could also be attributed to electoral machinery that malfunctioned on a grand scale, either on purpose or because of ineptitude. We think Lake’s lawyer makes a compelling case. The second video gives the essence of the legal arguments that are being presented to the courts and they are substantial.
There is a third possible view that says choices one and two are not mutually exclusive. It is entirely possible that internal party rifts, or Lake herself, cost Republican votes. Yet whatever that difference was could easily have been made up by Republican voters and independents who either could not wait at the polls and did not vote or those who voted but had their ballots lost or miscounted. Technical issues affected far more possible votes than the margin of loss because of disaffected Republicans.
In Arizona, the imperfections in the electoral system in Maricopa County in particular are obvious. It has either been a case of malevolence or extreme incompetence, or possibly both. In either case, continued controversial elections undermine the faith voters have in the process. The video below gives the essence of the legal arguments that are being presented to the courts and they are substantial.
However, we let the viewer draw his or her own conclusions.
