Former Arizona Governor Doug Ducey has announced his support for former President Donald Trump and former TV news anchor Kari Lake in the upcoming presidential and senatorial elections.
Ducey took to the social platform X to express his views, stating that this year’s election is crucial and he encourages all eligible Arizona voters to cast their ballots, prioritizing issues that have the greatest impact on their state and country.
He emphasized the importance of border security, curbing inflation, ensuring respect for the United States on the global stage, and preventing the outbreak of a third world war.
In the November elections, from the presidency to senators, congressmen, governors, and local officials, Ducey declared his support for Republican candidates across the board.
“Douglas Trump and Kari Lake have my backing,” Ducey stated. “Setting aside our differences, there are too many risks involved, and only with Republicans in the White House and majority seats in both chambers of Congress can we ensure this.”
Before Ducey publicly endorsed Trump, Arizona had a unique week with Democratic presidential candidate and Vice President Kamala Harris visiting the state, while Republicans organized joint campaign rallies for Trump and Lake.
After Ducey’s show of support, Lake responded on X, praising Ducey for his contributions as governor.
“Doug Ducey supports me because he knows that uniting all Arizonans and winning big in November has never been more critical,” Lake remarked, also commending Ducey’s economic and educational improvements during his eight-year tenure.
The relationship between Ducey and Trump has been complex. While Ducey initially supported Trump and was a key ally, their relationship soured after the last election.
During the previous U.S. election, there were controversies over the election results in Arizona. Initially, Ducey stated that until all court cases were resolved, the state’s election was not over, and he did not acknowledge Biden’s victory.
However, Ducey later changed his stance and publicly confirmed Biden’s victory by signing the election results on November 30, publicly declining Trump’s calls, leading to a deterioration in their relationship.
Therefore, Ducey’s public support for Trump may signal a potential improvement in their relationship.
In 2022, Ducey did not support Lake in the Republican gubernatorial primary. While Lake won the primary that year, she was defeated by the incumbent Governor, Katie Hobbs, in the election.
With the election heat rising, Arizona’s pivotal 11 electoral votes have made the former Republican Governor’s support a focal point.
During an interview with the New York Post on Tuesday, Ducey criticized the Biden administration’s border policies.
“I have worked alongside three presidents: Obama, Trump, and Biden,” Ducey said. “Biden has been the worst performer on border issues so far.”
Ducey also noted that Kamala Harris’ failure to visit the border shows a lack of “focus on the border,” which he believes is a crucial issue she must address in the current U.S. election.
Last week, Ducey also told the media that he believes border control was better during the Trump administration.