A Maricopa County Superior Court judge on Tuesday dismissed Kari Lake's final claim in her election challenge, effectively ending her bid to overturn her defeat to Democrat Katie Hobbs in the 2022 Arizona gubernatorial election.
Judge Peter Thompson ruled that Lake failed to prove her claim that Maricopa County did not verify signatures on mail ballots as required by law. Lake had alleged that thousands of ballots were improperly counted because they were not properly signed.
Thompson's ruling is a major setback for Lake, who has repeatedly made false claims about the election being stolen from her. Donald Trump, a previous president who has likewise made false statements regarding the 2020 election, has also backed her.
Hobbs, who is the current secretary of state, welcomed Thompson's ruling. She said in a statement as "this is a win for the rule of law and for the voters of Arizona." The court stated that there is no proof to back up Kari Lake's poor claims about the election.
Lake hasn't yet said if she'll challenge Thompson's decision. She has, still already started preparing the groundwork for a potential bid for politics. Her political action committee has been established & she plans to run for Congress in 2024.
Thompson's decision serves as a reminder that there is no proof to back up Trump & his friends' accusations of rampant voting fraud. These claims have been repeatedly debunked by election officials & experts.
The 2022 Arizona gubernatorial election was one of the most closely watched elections in the country. Lake & Hobbs were both strong candidates, and the race was ultimately decided by a narrow margin.
Thompson's ruling is a victory for democracy & for the voters of Arizona. It makes it quite evident that there is no proof to back up the accusations of rampant voter fraud & that the election was fair.