Kari Lake Confirms No Congressional Run After Trump's Reported Rejection
Kari Lake, the former television anchor turned prominent Trump ally, announced on Wednesday night that she will not mount a bid for an Arizona Congressional seat. This decision follows a report from The Atlantic detailing how President Donald Trump reportedly gave her the cold shoulder when she visited the White House last autumn to seek his endorsement for a potential campaign.
A History of High-Profile Losses and Trump Backing
The 56-year-old Lake, a vocal proponent of Trump's unfounded claims of widespread fraud in the 2020 election, has been endorsed twice by the former president. These endorsements came during her unsuccessful runs for Arizona governor in 2022, where she lost to Democrat Katie Hobbs, and for the U.S. Senate in 2024, defeated by Democrat Ruben Gallego. Despite these losses, Lake currently holds a role within the Trump administration, leading the United States Agency for Global Media.
'That is not in my plans,' Lake stated definitively during a red carpet event at the Trump Kennedy Center. 'I'm actually very happy working for the Trump administration. I'm excited about work every day.' She added, 'So the answer is no.'
The Atlantic's Account of a Pitiful White House Visit
The Atlantic's report painted a stark picture of Lake's October visit to the White House. According to the magazine, Lake waited for hours in the lobby hoping to speak with President Trump. 'Kari has been here for hours,' a White House aide reportedly told a GOP operative. 'She's going to run and she's asking for an endorsement.' The magazine claims Lake eventually made her pitch to a junior aide, who conveyed no enthusiasm for another Lake campaign.
Lake has denied this characterization of events. 'The President has always been very gracious and generous when I have requested time with him,' she said. 'If and when I decide to run for office, The Atlantic will be the last to know.'
The Crowded Arizona First District Race
Sources within Arizona politics informed the Daily Mail that Lake had been considering a run in Arizona's 1st Congressional District. However, this seat presents significant challenges. Former Arizona Cardinals kicker Jay Feely is seen as having a strong grip on the Republican nomination. Feely, ranked as Arizona's second most popular politician and its most well-liked Republican in a Noble Predictive Insights poll, has already secured Trump's endorsement, along with Arizona Republican Party chair Gina Swoboda.
This House seat, vacated by GOP Representative David Schweikert for his gubernatorial run, is rated a toss-up by the Cook Political Report, making it a critical hold for Republicans in the November midterms.
Missed Opportunities and Administration Tensions
Political analyst Mike Noble suggested on social media that Lake might have had a better chance in Arizona's solidly Republican 5th Congressional District. 'A district like the 5th is doable for Kari Lake and far more attainable,' he noted. However, Trump had already endorsed Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb for that race.
This incident is not the first sign of tension between Lake and Trump. In April 2024, the Washington Post reported that Trump had grown annoyed with Lake's frequent visits to Mar-a-Lago during her Senate campaign, gently suggesting she focus more on campaigning in Arizona. While Trump ultimately won Arizona in the presidential election, Lake lost her Senate race to Gallego by 2.4 percentage points.
Current Role and Future Political Ambitions
Following her Senate loss, Trump appointed Lake to lead the United States Agency for Global Media, which oversees Voice of America. Her tenure has faced legal challenges, as she has never been confirmed by the U.S. Senate. An effort to shut down Voice of America, after it was targeted by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, has also encountered legal roadblocks.
Despite this, Lake expressed satisfaction with her current position. 'We are doing great things and great work,' she told the Daily Mail. 'I love working for President Trump. He's the greatest President that this nation has ever had. And to be working for him in this capacity, in any capacity, is a blessing.'
While ruling out an immediate Congressional run, Lake appears to be keeping her political options open for the future. In a curious development, MSNOW reported in January that Lake purchased a condo in Davenport, Iowa, in November. Born in Rock Island, Illinois, and having grown up in nearby Eldridge, Iowa, this move has sparked speculation.
'Lake now having property in Iowa leaves the door open for a future run in the Hawkeye state,' an Arizona political insider commented. 'Changing residency to her native Iowa is now a simple process. Senator Grassley will be 94 at the end of his term. Lake's condo purchase begs the question, is she weighing a run for his Senate seat in 2028?'
