Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Judge Dismisses Election-Denier's Final Claim Over Loss in AZ Governor Race
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 12 months ago on
May 23, 2023

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

A judge on Monday dismissed the only remaining legal claim in Republican Kari Lake’s challenge of her loss in last year’s race for Arizona governor, affirming the election of Democrat Katie Hobbs.

Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Peter A. Thompson said Lake failed to prove her claim that Maricopa County did not verify signatures on mail ballots as required by law.

Lake was among the most vocal of last year’s Republican candidates promoting former President Donald Trump’s election lies, which she made the centerpiece of her campaign. She has built a loyal following among Trump supporters and is openly considering a run for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Kyrsten Sinema, an independent and former Democrat. Lake is also often mentioned as a potential vice presidential pick for Trump.

While most other election deniers around the country conceded after losing their races in November, Lake did not. She has touted her legal battle in fundraising appeals and speeches around the country.

Lake did not immediately comment on the ruling.

She filed suit after losing to Hobbs by about 17,000 votes, asking the courts to install her as governor or order a new election. Thompson dismissed the case, but the Arizona Supreme Court revived a claim that challenges how signature verification procedures were used on early ballots in Maricopa County, home to more than 60% of the state’s voters. County officials had defended the signature verification efforts and said they had nothing to hide.

Lake’s signature verification claim was the subject of a three-day trial. Her lawyers argued that there was evidence that lower-level screeners who found inconsistencies in signatures ran them up the chain of command, where they were neglected by higher level verifiers.

She did not contest whether voters’ signatures on ballot envelopes matched those in their voting records.

The former TV anchor faced a high bar in proving not only her allegation over signature verification efforts but also that it affected the outcome of her race.

Thompson, who was appointed to the bench by former Republican Gov. Jan Brewer, said she did not meet that high bar.

“The evidence the Court received does not support Plaintiff’s remaining claim,” he wrote.

Earlier in her lawsuit, Lake had focused on problems with ballot printers at some polling places in Maricopa County. The defective printers produced ballots that were too light to be read by the on-site tabulators at polling places. Lines were backed up in some areas amid the confusion. Lake alleged ballot printer problems were the result of intentional misconduct.

County officials say everyone had a chance to vote and all ballots were counted because those affected by the printers were taken to more sophisticated counters at election headquarters.

In mid-February, the Arizona Court of Appeals rejected Lake’s assertions, concluding she presented no evidence that voters whose ballots were unreadable by tabulators at polling places were unable to vote.

The following month, the state Supreme Court declined to hear nearly all of Lake’s appeal, saying there was no evidence to support her claim that more than 35,000 ballots were added to vote totals.

Earlier this month, the court sanctioned Lake’s lawyers $2,000 for making false statements when saying that more than 35,000 ballots had been improperly added to the total count.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

See How Valley Lawmakers Voted on a Bill That Chills Free Speech

DON'T MISS

Meet Goldie Hawn: The Adorable Yorkie with a Heart of Gold

DON'T MISS

Police Investigating Possible Vandalism at Jewish Temple, Catholic Church

DON'T MISS

Valley PBS’ Top 2 Executives Departing. Were Their Resignations a Surprise?

DON'T MISS

Unfiltered Clip: Insights from Dr. Trita Parsi on Navigating the Israel-Palestine Conflict

DON'T MISS

Hamas Is Sending a Delegation to Egypt for Further Cease-Fire Talks in the Latest Sign of Progress

DON'T MISS

President Joe Biden Calls Japan and India ‘Xenophobic’ Nations That Do Not Welcome Immigrants

DON'T MISS

DEA’s Marijuana Reclassification Could Revive California’s Struggling Pot Industry

DON'T MISS

How to Reclaim the Israel-Palestine Debate From the Radicals on Both Sides

DON'T MISS

US Airstrike Targeting Al-Qaida Leader in Syria Killed a Farmer, American Military Says

UP NEXT

Meet Goldie Hawn: The Adorable Yorkie with a Heart of Gold

UP NEXT

Police Investigating Possible Vandalism at Jewish Temple, Catholic Church

UP NEXT

Valley PBS’ Top 2 Executives Departing. Were Their Resignations a Surprise?

UP NEXT

Hamas Is Sending a Delegation to Egypt for Further Cease-Fire Talks in the Latest Sign of Progress

UP NEXT

President Joe Biden Calls Japan and India ‘Xenophobic’ Nations That Do Not Welcome Immigrants

UP NEXT

DEA’s Marijuana Reclassification Could Revive California’s Struggling Pot Industry

UP NEXT

How to Reclaim the Israel-Palestine Debate From the Radicals on Both Sides

UP NEXT

US Airstrike Targeting Al-Qaida Leader in Syria Killed a Farmer, American Military Says

UP NEXT

Today’s Campus Protests Aren’t Nearly as Big or Violent as Those of the Vietnam Era

UP NEXT

Valley Children’s Gets ‘Historic’ Gift to Boost Cancer Treatments. How Big Is It?

Valley PBS’ Top 2 Executives Departing. Were Their Resignations a Surprise?

Entertainment /

13 hours ago

Unfiltered Clip: Insights from Dr. Trita Parsi on Navigating the Israel-Palestine Conflict

Video /

13 hours ago

Hamas Is Sending a Delegation to Egypt for Further Cease-Fire Talks in the Latest Sign of Progress

15 hours ago

President Joe Biden Calls Japan and India ‘Xenophobic’ Nations That Do Not Welcome Immigrants

15 hours ago

DEA’s Marijuana Reclassification Could Revive California’s Struggling Pot Industry

15 hours ago

How to Reclaim the Israel-Palestine Debate From the Radicals on Both Sides

15 hours ago

US Airstrike Targeting Al-Qaida Leader in Syria Killed a Farmer, American Military Says

15 hours ago

Today’s Campus Protests Aren’t Nearly as Big or Violent as Those of the Vietnam Era

16 hours ago

Mike Yaz Homers at Fenway In Giants Win After Visit From His Hall of Fame Grandpa

16 hours ago

Lagging Revenue Drives California Budget Deficit as Deadline Nears

16 hours ago

See How Valley Lawmakers Voted on a Bill That Chills Free Speech

The House of Representatives passed a bill with bipartisan support on Wednesday that would establish a broader definition of antisemitism fo...

13 seconds ago

14 seconds ago

See How Valley Lawmakers Voted on a Bill That Chills Free Speech

30 mins ago

Meet Goldie Hawn: The Adorable Yorkie with a Heart of Gold

11 hours ago

Police Investigating Possible Vandalism at Jewish Temple, Catholic Church

Entertainment /
13 hours ago

Valley PBS’ Top 2 Executives Departing. Were Their Resignations a Surprise?

Video /
13 hours ago

Unfiltered Clip: Insights from Dr. Trita Parsi on Navigating the Israel-Palestine Conflict

15 hours ago

Hamas Is Sending a Delegation to Egypt for Further Cease-Fire Talks in the Latest Sign of Progress

15 hours ago

President Joe Biden Calls Japan and India ‘Xenophobic’ Nations That Do Not Welcome Immigrants

15 hours ago

DEA’s Marijuana Reclassification Could Revive California’s Struggling Pot Industry

MENU

CONNECT WITH US

Search

Send this to a friend