Trump-Endorsed Kari Lake Surges Into GOP Primary Lead For AZ Governor With Early Morning Vote Total Swing Over Establishment-Backed Karrin Robson

In an incredible turn of events, Trump-endorsed Kari Lake has surged in the GOP primary lead for Arizona governor over establishment-backed Karrin Robson.

Robson was endorsed by Mike Pence and current Arizona Governor Doug Ducey while Lake has the support of the 45th President Donald Trump, who featured her at his “Save America” rally in the state prior to the election.

Many had counted Lake out when the early vote totals showed her down by as much as 10% including election expert Dave Wasserman.

Wasserman tweeted just prior to midnight eastern time, “Shorter AZ GOP primary: Blake Masters’ (R) 34% looks like it could be good enough to win the #AZSEN primary, while Kari Lake’s (R) 40% doesn’t look like it will cut it in #AZGOV.”

Shorter AZ GOP primary: Blake Masters’ (R) 34% looks like it could be good enough to win the #AZSEN primary, while Kari Lake’s (R) 40% doesn’t look like it will cut it in #AZGOV.

— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) August 3, 2022

Lake at this point has declared victory as she tweeted at 4:02 am eastern time, “Get ready, @katiehobbs.”

Katie Hobbs has been declared the winner of the Democratic primary in the race for governor.

Get ready, @katiehobbs 😃

— Kari Lake for AZ Governor (@KariLake) August 3, 2022

The Kari Lake War Room later tweeted out a picture of Lake in a tweet that she retweeted, “This is the exact moment @KariLake found out she won the election.”

This is the exact moment @KariLake found out she won the election. pic.twitter.com/3c4LQYgmfF

— Kari Lake War Room (@KariLakeWarRoom) August 3, 2022

Conservative media platform “El American” tweeted out a video of Lake celebrating at her victory party and said, “#BREAKING | @KariLake is the projected winner of the Arizona GOP Primary according to sources.”

#BREAKING | @KariLake is the projected winner of the Arizona GOP Primary according to sources. pic.twitter.com/lnfu7MK8dz

— El American (@ElAmerican_) August 3, 2022

Just prior to 4 am eastern time, the Maricopa County Elections Department reported in a tweet, “That’s a wrap on results for Election Night.”

“We’ll be back tomorrow signature verifying all of the early ballots dropped off today. We’ll post updated results again by 7 p.m. Wednesday. Find the tallies at http://Results.Maricopa.Vote“

At this point, the results show Lake and Robson in nearly a dead heat in the county, which had given Robson a larger margin early, which had helped propel her into the lead.

That’s a wrap on results for Election Night. We’ll be back tomorrow signature verifying all of the early ballots dropped off today. We’ll post updated results again by 7 p.m. Wednesday. Find the tallies at https://t.co/iARFPkoxOB pic.twitter.com/YHs0hr7UgB

— Maricopa County Elections Department (@MaricopaVote) August 3, 2022

UPDATE, 9:00 AM ET:

Cook Political’s Dave Wasserman had this to say:

“Trump-endorsed Kari Lake (R) has taken the lead over Gov. Ducey-backed Karrin Taylor Robson (R) by 11,324 votes (1.8 pts) in the #AZGOV GOP primary w/ more EDay ballots counted, and it doesn’t look like she’s giving it back.”

Trump-endorsed Kari Lake (R) has taken the lead over Gov. Ducey-backed Karrin Taylor Robson (R) by 11,324 votes (1.8 pts) in the #AZGOV GOP primary w/ more EDay ballots counted, and it doesn't look like she's giving it back.

— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) August 3, 2022