Mark Lamb, a Republican contender for the U.S. Senate and the sheriff of Pinal County, proudly displayed his extensive collection of memorabilia as he walked about his airy office with a view of the Sonoran Desert.
This was the vintage western rifle that his spouse had given him as a present after he was elected in 2016. It was beneath a framed New York Post cover article hailing him as the “last line of defense” against drug traffickers, and it rested next to an engraved weapon and an animal skull. The Trump family, including Donald, Melania, and Barron, had sent him a signed card expressing gratitude for coming to a Christmas celebration at Mar-a-Lago, the former president’s mansion and resort. Eagles and American flags were everywhere.
In surveys, Ms. Lake, 54, has had a sizable lead against Mr. Lamb, 52, for months. She is favored to win the primary on Tuesday night, thanks to Mr. Trump’s support, the support of the Washington Republican establishment, and all the advertising money that went along with it. The Democratic nominee for the seat being left empty by Senator Kyrsten Sinema, a Democrat who went independent and chose not to seek reelection, is Representative Ruben Gallego, who has no opposition.
Political analysts and operatives in Arizona claimed that Mr. Lamb’s failures to make a name for himself are a reflection of the larger party dynamic. Even though he has worked to portray himself as an anti-immigration hard-liner who loves Americana, wears cowboy hats, and is an avid Republican in border states, Ms. Lake is almost unrecognizable due to her ability to successfully project the president’s likeness onto herself.
According to Chuck Coughlin, a seasoned Republican political consultant in Arizona, “this has been the pattern of Republican primary politics in Arizona: He that is most certain that Trump shall win.” However, he pointed out that the same candidates have struggled with voters in general elections. “No MAGA candidate has repeated that since 2016, when Trump won unaffiliated voters.”
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