Kari Lake wins Arizona's GOP Senate primary. She'll face Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego

Arizonans have chosen Kari Lake, an election denying ally of former President Donald Trump, as the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate in a race that could determine control of the chamber this fall, according to a race call by The Associated Press.

With results from early voting reported, Lake led with approximately 54% of the GOP primary vote, well more than the roughly 40% held by her rival, Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb and a distant third challenger, Elizabeth Reye. Lake's margin of victory may change as more votes are counted.

At an election night rally in Phoenix after her race was called, Lake told a crowd of supporters that Arizonans had less than three-and-a-half months to save the country alongside Trump.

“He can’t do this alone,” Lake said. “He needs backup in Washington, D.C.”

Someone in the crowd shouted, “He needs Kari Lake!”

“He needs backup in Washington, D.C. and I’m gonna be his backup!” Lake added.

She’ll face Democratic Congressman Ruben Gallego, who ran unopposed for his party’s nomination to the Senate seat now filled by retiring Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz.

Lake has been a MAGA Republican ever since launching her political career with a failed campaign for governor of Arizona in 2022. While running for the Senate, Lake continues to deny her loss to Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, and earlier this month filed yet another lawsuit seeking to have the outcome of that gubernatorial race overturned – and have herself instated as governor.

Her persistent election denialism may have helped her receive the support of Trump, who swiftly endorsed Lake when she entered the U.S. Senate race last fall. But it’s considered a weakness by some Arizona Republicans who worry she’ll lose another statewide race this