Rep. Kari Lake files case to overturn Arizona election results
Lake claims Hobbs' and Richer's alleged misconduct “nullifies” the elections, adding that their actions “wrongfully” named her rival as the winner.
The 70-page lawsuit from Kari Lake, the Republican candidate who was defeated in Arizona's governor race in November, challenged the state's election results and is demanding a court order that would make her winner instead.
A famous election denier and Trump supporter, Lake refused to acknowledge the win by Democratic Governor-elect Katie Hobbs, Arizona's secretary of state. Hobbs and Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer are cited as defendants in the case, as Lake claims their alleged misconduct “nullifies” the elections, adding that their actions “wrongfully” named her rival as the winner.
Read more: Twitter scandal exposes Arizona's Hobbs for 'election misinformation'
The lawsuit stated: “Lake received the greatest number of votes and is entitled to be named the winner,” as it continued: “Alternately, the election must be re-done in Maricopa County to eliminate the effects of maladministration and illegal votes on the vote tallies reported by Maricopa County.”
Hobbs' campaign: 'Lake needs attention like a fish needs water'
According to the lawsuit, ballot printer failures, which Lake believed were intentional, were the main reasons that led to “chaos” on Election Day with "oppressively long lines" that in turn affected voter turnout and deterred Republican voters who were leaning to vote for her.
A report was published by Maricopa County regarding the alleged voting glitches last month after Arizona's attorney general requested answers on the matter. Voters were called on by election officials to either drop their ballots in a secure box in case of a machine malfunction or to choose another voting location to go to.
"Setting aside the certified result of the 2022 Arizona gubernatorial election and declaring that Kari Lake is the winner of the 2022 Arizona gubernatorial election" is one of the many demands Lake is vying for in her 70-page lawsuit.
Hobbs' campaign manager responded to Lake's filing calling it a "sham lawsuit" and adding that “Kari Lake needs attention like a fish needs water — and independent experts and local election officials of both parties have made clear that this was a safe, secure, and fair election,”
“Arizonans made their voices heard and elected Katie Hobbs as their governor. No nuisance lawsuit will change that, and we remain laser-focused on getting ready to hit the ground running on Day One of Katie Hobbs’ administration next year.”
Just a few days ago, Lake told Real America’s Voice “War Room” host Steve Bannon, who was found guilty of contempt of Congress in July.“We’re ready to go with what we believe to be an exceptional lawsuit. And we believe we will be victorious in that lawsuit,”
“We’ll take it all the way to the Supreme Court if we have to. We will not stop fighting. Because the people of Arizona were disenfranchised,” she continued. “The voters who decided to go to the polls on Election Day, as stated in our Arizona Constitution, were disenfranchised.
“Nobody believes Katie Hobbs won. I know Katie Hobbs knows she didn’t win,” Lake argued, warning that "It's going to be real ugly."