Kari Lake announced she will not pursue future political office in Arizona following her recent Senate race defeat while accepting President-elect Donald Trump's nomination to lead Voice of America (VOA).
The decision marks the end of the Republican's electoral pursuits in Arizona after two consecutive losses in high-profile races.
Newsweek contacted Lake via email on Sunday for comment.
Why It Matters
The transition from state politics to federal media leadership for the MAGA loyalist represents a significant shift in both Arizona's political landscape and the future direction of VOA, a government-funded international media organization.
We know the movement that we have in Arizona, and I will never take that for granted.
But there is a corrupt machine here that is hellbent on making sure I never hold office.
So, I won't put my family (and myself) through the torture of running again.
I will go to Washington,… https://t.co/L8VpQl1kfA
What To Know
The former news anchor left her position at FOX 10 Phoenix in 2021 after two decades and a list of controversies, including sharing unverified information on social media and COVID-19 misinformation during the pandemic.
Lake then lost the 2024 Arizona Senate race to Democrat Ruben Gallego, securing 47.7 percent of the vote compared to Gallego's 50.1 percent after transitioning into politics. This followed her 2022 gubernatorial loss to Democrat Katie Hobbs.
In her speech at the Republican National Convention (RNC) this summer, Lake accused the "fake news" of spending "the last eight years lying about Trump and his amazing, patriotic supporters," and said they had "worn out your welcome."
Lake was reportedly a top contender for U.S. ambassadorship to Mexico in Trump's upcoming administration, according to a Semafor report. However, the president-elect announced former CIA official Ron Johnson had been tapped for the role.
What People Are Saying
Lake wrote on X: "We know the movement that we have in Arizona, and I will never take that for granted. But there is a corrupt machine here that is hellbent on making sure I never hold office. So, I won't put my family (and myself) through the torture of running again. I will go to Washington, D.C., return @VOANews to its glory days, and help President Trump Make America Great Again."
During her Senate campaign launch in October, Lake stated: "I'm really tired of watching our politicians retreat from every single important battle. They're cowards. That's how we got into the mess we're in right now, because they have surrendered far too many hills. We are on — we're on the final hill right now, and I'm not surrendering this hill."
Trump announced on Truth Social: "I am pleased to announce that Kari Lake will serve as our next Director of the Voice of America. She will be appointed by, and work closely with, our next head of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, who I will announce soon, to ensure that the American values of Freedom and Liberty are broadcast around the World FAIRLY and ACCURATELY, unlike the lies spread by the Fake News Media."
What Happens Next
Lake's appointment to VOA awaits formal processes through the U.S. Agency for Global Media. Her leadership of the international broadcasting organization will be closely watched, particularly given her previous positions on media and electoral issues.
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