Kari Lake Halperin is an American conservative political figure, Republican politician, and former television news anchor from Arizona, renowned as a prominent election denier for her staunch loyalty to Donald Trump and promotion of election denialism. Born on August 23, 1969, in Rock Island, Illinois, to Larry and Sheila Lake (née McGuire), she grew up in Iowa as one of nine siblings in a Midwestern family with roots in Wisconsin. She earned a bachelor's degree in communications and journalism from the University of Iowa in 1991, began her career as an intern at KWQC-TV in Davenport, Iowa, and moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where she became a prominent evening news anchor at Fox 10 Arizona for over two decades from 1999 until her resignation in 2021. During this time, she also owned a small business and established herself as a symbol of traditional journalism before criticizing mainstream media bias. Transitioning to politics, she ran as the Republican nominee for Governor of Arizona in 2022, narrowly losing to Democrat Katie Hobbs amid widespread allegations of election fraud, which she refused to concede. She continued her political ascent by securing the GOP nomination for the U.S. Senate in Arizona in 2024, again emphasizing Trump-aligned themes but ultimately losing to Democrat Ruben Gallego. A vocal Trump supporter, Lake received endorsements from key conservative donors like Richard Uihlein and was appointed senior advisor to the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) on March 3, 2025, under President Trump's second administration. By July 2025, she advanced to deputy CEO and acting CEO of USAGM, overseeing entities like Voice of America. Personally, Lake is a self-described follower of Christ, married to Jeff Halperin, and mother to two children, Ruby and Leo, residing primarily in Arizona with activities spanning Washington, D.C. Her career has been marked by controversy, including her rejection of the 2020 and 2022 election results, lawsuits against media outlets for defamation, and criticism for spreading misinformation. Her influence within Republican circles stems from her media savvy and unyielding partisan stance, positioning her as a key player in Trump's network of loyalists.