FACT CHECK: Did Kari Lake Post This Concession Statement On Twitter?
An image shared on Facebook allegedly shows a tweet from Republican Arizona Gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake conceding to Democrat Governor-elect Katie Hobbs.
Verdict: False
The post stems from satirical account. Lake has not issued a concession statement as of Nov. 15.
Fact Check:
Hobbs was declared the winner of the Arizona gubernatorial election Monday night, six days following the 2022 midterm elections, according to The New York Times. Lake has been reportedly advised to “not storm the castle” over her electoral loss, The Washington Post reported.
The Facebook image purportedly shows a screenshot of a tweet from Lake. The alleged tweet was posted the evening of Nov. 10, 2022.
“It is with a heavy heart that I must concede to my opponent, @katiehobbs,” the tweet reads. “We didn’t get the outcome we wanted but I promise we’ll be back even stronger in next year’s gubernatorial election.”
The account in the image is a parody. Writer Arieh Klover pointed out the tweet was from a satirical account, with another user sharing what appeared to be its bio. The account has since been suspended.
There are no credible news reports that suggest this tweet was shared by Lake’s actual account. (RELATED: Did A Pennsylvania Judge Rule that ballots Would Be Accepted And Counted Until November 14?)
Lake has not yet posted a concession statement as of Nov. 15 on her verified social media accounts or website. Rather, the former TV anchor appeared to dispute the election results Nov. 14, tweeting “Arizonans know BS when they see it.”
Arizonans know BS when they see it.
— Kari Lake (@KariLake) November 15, 2022
Lake also appeared on Fox News, calling Arizona’s electoral process “the laughingstock of elections” while criticizing the state legislature’s approach to election integrity and reform.
.@KariLake: “We need to get in there and restore faith in our elections. We can’t be the laughingstock anymore, and when I’m Governor, I won’t allow it.” pic.twitter.com/TyRuBcTrr8
— Kari Lake (@KariLake) November 13, 2022
This is not the first time a misinformation about a politician has been shared on social media. Check Your Fact recently debunked a claim U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak suspended foreign aid to Ukraine.