'Dadgum patriot': QAnon-embracing sheriff may outperform Kari Lake — but she's in his way

There's a new sheriff in town in Arizona. After years of the state being known for its ex-lawman, Joe Arpaio, it is now Mark Lamb, who scored a New York Times profile 24 hours before the primary election.

Lamb is challenging Donald Trump's pal Kari Lake in the race for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Kyrsten Sinema.

“I’m a dadgum patriot,” the QAnon-theorizing sheriff told the paper.

But even if he has a pathway to victory over Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Lake has the vote sewed up among the true believers.

Read also: Kari Lake earned a senator’s salary for talking and writing: documents

The GOP primary is on the horizon in Arizona and Lamb is closing the polling distance of the failed Republican gubernatorial candidate, he said Monday. The Times explained that Lake is the likely winner as most folks don't know anything about Lamb.

"Despite burnishing his brand as a cowboy hat-wearing, Americana-loving, immigration hard-liner, a résumé that might normally appeal to the Republican faithful in a border state, it is Ms. Lake who is near-ubiquitous, thanks to her success in modeling herself in the president’s image," said the report.

While Lamb thinks he may be the perfect candidate for the GOP, Lake's longtime relationship with Trump could be what gets her the nomination.

Arizona GOP political consultant Chuck Coughlin explained: “This has been the pattern of Republican primary politics in Arizona: He that is most liketh Trump shall win. Since 2016, when Trump won unaffiliated voters, no MAGA candidate has repeated that.”

The report highlighted his MAGA chops by citing his membership in the Constitutional sheriff movement, noting that the group believes sheriffs can choose which laws to enforce and which ones not to.

While Republicans are curious about him, the Times spoke with one man, 72-year-old Tom Standish of Mesa, who said he liked the sheriff but Lake's inevitability would convince him in the end.

“I just think she’s going to win the primary and has the best chance in the general,” Standish told the Times.

But Lake's spotlight-hogging ways prompted new donations for Lamb's campaign at the last minute. Conservative non-profit American Encore put an ad on the air claiming, "Donald Trump needs a workhorse in the Senate, not a show horse."

Lake's years-long challenge of the 2020 election "made her a polarizing figure during her 2022 run for governor." It turned independent voters against her in a state where they are a key voting bloc.

The Washington Post revealed an email sent from a top GOP donor whose husband owns the Arizona Diamondbacks, casting doubt about her chances to win.

“It appears that Kari Lake cannot win the general election for Senate,” confessed Randy Kendrick in an email to friends. She asked her friends to take a look at Lamb, who doesn't have the baggage Lake does.

"Either way, it may be too late for him to significantly shake up the race," said the Times.

Read the full profile here.