EXCLUSIVE — Gov. Doug Burgum (R-ND) will back Kari Lake’s Senate bid in Arizona, marking the latest high-profile endorsement for the Republican candidate in what is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched elections of the 2024 cycle.
Burgum endorsed Lake on Friday, arguing she is the best candidate to help former President Donald Trump enforce his agenda should he be elected to a second term in the White House, according to a statement from the governor first shared with the Washington Examiner.
“In the US Senate, Kari will be an unstoppable force for commonsense. She has what it takes to lead our country back to safety, prosperity, and peace,” Burgum said. “Kari Lake has my complete and total endorsement!”
The support comes as Republicans eye the Senate race in Arizona as one of the party’s best opportunities to seize control of the upper chamber next year. However, recent polling shows Lake trailing behind the Democratic candidate, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), by roughly 13 percentage points, according to a poll conducted by YouGov and CBS News.
That polling was reinforced after the nonpartisan Cook Political Report shifted the race from being rated a “tossup” to “lean Democratic.”
But Lake’s allies, such as Burgum, have repeatedly pointed to 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, who leads Biden by 5 points in the state, and Trump has endorsed her candidacy.
“I’m honored to have the support of one of the rising voices in the America First movement, Governor Doug Burgum!” Lake said in a statement. “As a successful businessman and Governor of North Dakota, Doug Burgum recognizes how critical it is to improve our economy, restore energy independence, and strengthen our national security.”
Lake is also endorsed by a wave of Trump allies and Senate Republicans, including members of leadership.
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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 narrow control of the upper chamber.
Democrats hold a 51-49 majority, 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.
