For Immediate Release
Saturday, Oct. 29th, 2022
Contact: Josselyn Berry, Jberry@azdem.org
Kari Lake Can’t Stop Endorsing Anti-Semites
Lake Gives Doug Mastriano Her “Complete and Total Endorsement”
PHOENIX– Kari Lake has endorsed yet another antisemite, giving Pennsylvania GOP gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano her “complete and total endorsement.” Mastriano is known for his ties to antisemites and white supremacists. Mastriano frequently uses antisemitic tropes against his Jewish opponent, has attacked a Jewish school, compared gun control reform to Nazi policy and shared an image saying legal abortion is worse than the Holocaust. To offset criticism he highlighted an endorsement from a rabbi — who ended up espousing conspiracy theories such as QAnon and that Hitler was part-lizard. Not only all of that, Mastriano was also present during the January 6 insurrection at the Capitol.
This isn’t the first antisemite that Lake has supported and endorsed. Lake was recently gushing about meeting Mel Gibson recently. The actor, who’s been called “Hollywood’s leading antisemite,” is well known for his antisemitic tirades.
Lake also endorsed Jarrin Jackson, an Oklahoma state Senate candidate with a history of making racist and anti-gay remarks. When she faced backlash, Lake’s response to endorsing Jackson was, “Let me be clear: Our great movement welcomes anyone and everyone who wants to fight for a better future.” Jackson has a well documented history of saying vile antisemitic and homophobic remarks. Jackson has also said “the Jews” are “evil” and are “taking over the world” to replace white people.
“It shouldn’t be surprising that Lake went out of her way to support someone as vile and antisemitic as Doug Mastriano when she’s made this exact type of hateful bigotry a cornerstone of her campaign,” said Josselyn Berry, spokesperson for the Arizona Democratic Party. “Lake has deliberately sought out and surrounds herself with people like Mastriano; further proof she isn’t interested in governing Arizona, but is obsessed with cementing herself as the leader of a radical, dangerous, right-wing crusade.”
See Below for More Of Lake’s Embrace of Antisemitism:
Trump-backed Kari Lake tries to run from antisemitic ties– “Arizona GOP gubernatorial nominee Kari Lake, a 2020 election denier backed by former President Donald Trump, is facing backlash over her ties to antisemitic hatemongers — again.”
Kari Lake mimics Mark Finchem’s antisemitic denial of antisemitism– “Kari Lake, the Republican candidate for Arizona governor, doesn’t like it when someone points out her campaign’s thinly cloaked antisemitic rants, some of which are aimed at her opponent, Democrat Katie Hobbs, while others are posted, seemingly, just for fun.”
The Jewish Community Relations of Greater Phoenix– “Kari Lake and Mark Finchem’s endorsements of the antisemitic Oklahoma State Senate Candidate Jarrin Jackson is appalling. We are judged by our relations, and the company we keep.”
Salon: Reactions roll in after Kari Lake endorses Jew-hating Jarrin Jackson–In the days following Lake’s decision to back Jarrin, the internet flooded with reminders of Jarrin’s personal views and past statements regarding racial, religious, and LGBTQ+ issues.