Vance endorses Lake in Arizona Senate race 

Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) announced on Tuesday that he’s endorsing Republican Kari Lake in the Arizona Senate race. 

“Kari Lake is a battle tested warrior who will secure the border and advocate for policies that put the American people first,” Vance said in a statement. 

“Kari is running against a Far-Left Democrat who has been a rubber stamp for all of [President Biden's] destructive policies that have gutted the middle class. I am proud to endorse Kari as the next U.S. Senator for Arizona.” 

The November general election matchup is expected to be between Lake and Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.). It’s unclear whether Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) will run for another term. The nonpartisan election handicapper Cook Political Report rates the seat as a “toss up.” 

“I am humbled to have the endorsement of Senator JD Vance,” Lake said in her own statement. “He has been a conservative hero in the Senate, standing up for America First values, and never backing down to the DC Swamp. I look forward to joining him in the Senate to get our country back on track." 

Vance is the latest Senate Republican to endorse Lake in the Senate race as Republicans have looked to coalesce around Lake. Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.), chairman of the Senate Republicans’ campaign arm, backed Lake earlier this month. 

Arizona represents one of Republicans’ best pick-up opportunities as Democrats look to defend their incumbents, including Sens. Sherrod Brown in Ohio and Jon Tester in Montana – two Democrats that represent states that former President Trump won in 2020.