EXCLUSIVE — Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) is endorsing Kari Lake as she solidifies GOP support for her Senate race in Arizona, one of the top battlegrounds of the 2024 cycle.
Scott, on former President Donald Trump’s running mate short list, lauded Lake for her stances on border security and the economy, arguing she is the best candidate to help implement Republicans’ “America First” agenda.
“Kari Lake’s unwavering commitment to securing our border and revitalizing our economy reflects the true spirit of what makes America exceptional, and that is why she is the leader Arizona needs in the U.S. Senate,” Scott said in a statement to the Washington Examiner. “I endorse Kari Lake for U.S. Senate, because we can count on her to fight for secure borders, a strong economy, and an America First agenda that will create opportunities for families across the country.”
The endorsement makes Scott, a top surrogate for Trump and former presidential candidate, one of the most prominent Senate Republicans to back Lake’s campaign.
“Sen. Tim Scott is a strong conservative in the Senate, standing up for secure borders and the American Dream,” Lake said. “I am honored to have his endorsement.”
At least 25 Republican senators have endorsed Lake’s campaign in Arizona, where she is expected to face Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) in what is considered one of the most competitive Senate races of the 2024 cycle.
Her campaign for the open seat of Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), who announced she would not run for reelection, is among Republicans’ better opportunities to seize control of the upper chamber next year.
Polling shows a tight contest between the two, but the most recent surveys indicate Gallego has an edge over Lake in the critical swing state. Gallego narrowly leads Lake by 4 percentage points, 45% to 41%, according to a recent poll by Emerson College and the Hill. That poll was conducted during the second week of June.
Despite trailing in the most recent surveys, Lake’s allies have 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 President Joe Biden 43% to 39%, the same poll shows.
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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 slim majority.
Democrats hold a 51-49 majority in the Senate, 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.