WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republican U.S. Senate candidate Kari Lake, a staunch supporter of the former president Donald Trumpurged supporters in Arizona to “strap on a Glock pistol” as they prepare for what she called an intense six months leading up to the Nov. 5 election.
“We’re going to put on the armor of God. Then maybe put on a Glock,” Lake told a cheering crowd at a rally in Arizona on Sunday.
“You can put one (Glock) here,” she said, touching her right hip. “And one in the back, or one in the front, whatever you decide.”
Her campaign did not respond to requests for comment.
Lake, 54, is seeking the Republican nomination in the race to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, a Democrat-turned-independent. The contest in Arizona will play a key role in determining whether Democrats maintain their narrow 51-49 majority in the Senate. Lake, a former local news anchor, made an unsuccessful bid for Arizona governor two years ago.
Arizona, a swing state that narrowly went for the Democrats Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election, could also play a crucial role in this year’s presidential election.
Lake’s comments came the day before Trump went on trial in New York on criminal charges over alleged hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels. Trump has pleaded not guilty.
Trump has sometimes used violent imagery in his campaign events, especially when criticizing immigrants and his opponents.
Lake warned his supporters that Trump was facing “lawsuits,” which refers to an alleged strategic use of legal proceedings designed to intimidate and hinder a candidate.
“The next six months are going to be difficult,” she said, adding that Trump is “willing to keep fighting for us.”
“This is the time when we have to save our country. He is willing to sacrifice everything. So am I, that’s why they’re coming after us,” Lake said.
Trump faces multiple criminal charges, including charges related to his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss to Biden based on false claims of widespread election fraud.
Trump supporters attacked the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, in an attempt to stop the certification of Biden’s election after he told them to “fight like hell” in a fiery speech nearby.
(Reporting by David Morgan; Editing by Scott Malone and Leslie Adler)
