Former Vice President Mike Pence (R) publicly endorsed Karin Taylor Robeson in Arizona’s Republican gubernatorial primary on Monday, defying former President Trump’s endorsement.
Why it matters: Pence’s endorsement underscores a growing divide in the Republican Party between the establishment wing of the party and the former president, the AP reports.
News Movement: Pence is expected to campaign with Robeson, a real estate developer, on Friday — the same day Trump will hold a rally for former TV news anchor Carrie Lake.
- The winner of the Aug. 2 GOP primary is likely to become the state’s next governor, Axios’ Jessica Boehm reports.
- Pence said Robeson is “the only gubernatorial candidate who will keep Arizona’s border secure and the streets safe, empower parents and create great schools and promote conservative values.”
The big picture: Pence’s endorsement also underscores the divide between GOP lawmakers and candidates who have bought into Trump’s false claims about the 2020 election and those who want to distance themselves from that rhetoric.
Current Status: Arizona’s gubernatorial primary is another test of Trump’s support — and his dominance of the Republican Party.
- Pence and other prominent Republicans have backed Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R), who has become a prime target of Trump after he refused to help him overturn the results of the 2020 election.
- Kemp won a landslide victory in Georgia and fended off a primary challenge from Trump-backed former U.S. Sen. David Perdue.
Go deeper… Tracking Trump’s approval ratings: Which candidates won and lost
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