The next step for Kari Lake

The next step for Kari Lake

An Arizona judge has ruled against Republican Kari Lake in her challenge to the results of the November gubernatorial race.

Maricopa County Court Judge Peter Thompson found that the court was not able to find clear and convincing evidence of the widespread misconduct allegation that Lake claimed had skewed the election results in favor of her opponent, Katie Hobbs.

Lake’s lawsuit alleged that there were problems with ballot printers at some polling locations as well as intentional misconduct on Election Day which led to her losing the election.

Rich Baris testifies that early voters completed their exit poll at a rate of 93% vs only 72% of Election Day voters.

“I can tell you that has never happened to me before, ever…these people didn’t complete this questionnaire because they didn’t vote. They didn’t get to vote.” pic.twitter.com/DPStMHMgp1
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) December 22, 2022

The witnesses who were brought forth deemed to have no personal knowledge of any misconduct the court ruled.

“The court cannot accept speculation or conjecture in place of clear and convincing evidence,” Thompson said.

Judge Thompson recognized the “anger and frustration” of voters who were inconvenienced during the election but stated that disregarding the results of an election “has never been done in the history of the United States.”

Lake’s lawyers focused on problems with ballot printers in Maricopa County, which has more than 60% of Arizona’s voters, as well as claiming that the chain of custody for ballots was broken at an off-site facility where ballots are scanned and prepared for processing. The lawyers claimed that workers at the facility had put in their own mail ballots in instead and that the paperwork, which would document the transfer of the ballots, was missing.

Kari Lake is not giving up on the fight. In a tweet following the ruling, she said she will file an appeal.

My Election Case provided the world with evidence that proves our elections are run outside of the law. This Judge did not rule in our favor. However, for the sake of restoring faith and honesty in our elections, I will appeal his ruling.
— Kari Lake (@KariLake) December 24, 2022