PHOENIX — An Arizona Senate candidate is pushing for “policies that encourage companies to offer flexible work hours, remote work options, and support systems for working mothers, such as affordable childcare initiatives.”
And — surprise, surprise — it’s the Republican.
It’s part of Kari Lake’s about-to-be-released eight-point platform she calls the Mama Bear Initiative, which she shared exclusively with The Post.
“The Mama Bear Initiative is about fierce, relentless protection of our families and giving moms the power to shape a better future for their kids. Women are the backbone of this nation, and we need leaders who understand that and fight for them,” Lake told The Post.
“As a mom, that’s the reason I’m in this. Nobody gets into politics because it’s gonna be fun,” she said with a laugh.
“We’re seeing this huge movement of moms who are busy as heck. You’re never more busy than when you’re taking care of your kids and you’re checking their backpacks, packing lunches, cooking dinner, running around to practice,” she added. “And now moms are realizing, oh my gosh, we have to add something else to the list — we have to add saving America to the list.”
The policy-heavy plan includes expanding school choice and parental rights, tax and free-market health-care reforms, stricter violent-crime penalties, improved veterans’ care, border security and “making America healthy again” — with that last mentioning the work of Democrat-turned-independent Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who’s endorsed Donald Trump for president.
Much of it is red meat for Republicans. But “empowering women through economic opportunities” is personal for Lake, a former TV news anchor and 2022 gubernatorial candidate.
“I would love to see policies that make it easier for moms, when they’re ready to get back into the workplace, to be able to do that,” said Lake, a mother of two college-aged children.
“Telecommuting is not something that’s now frowned upon. After COVID, we learned that you actually can run a business with people telecommuting and just some flexibility. If we want our moms to return back to work, we’ve gotta make some flexible hours for them,” she added.
“We’ll work with companies and try to build relationships with companies that want to welcome women back into the workforce after they become mothers and do so with a bit of flexibility that supports women and supports families.”
Along with that high-tech push, Lake wants to move back to basics in another arena. She’d like to see food regulations overhauled, promoting more locally grown organic food and scrutinizing what’s put in school lunches.
“There’s so many ingredients in some of these foods, when you examine them closely, you realize that many of them are not really healthy ingredients. So I’m looking forward to peeling things back and getting back to a time when we had healthy food,” she said, adding she recently discussed the issue with Kennedy, who could end up with a health-centered role in a second Trump term.
Cook Political Report ranks her Senate race “lean Democratic.” A Moms Against Lake coalition launched last week in Phoenix to aid her opponent, Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego. Suburban women are a key demographic in the Grand Canyon State, with many considered moderate or swing voters.
“It’s not just about policy. It’s about securing a better future for our kids. That’s what I’m worried about right now,” Lake told The Post.
“I see a lot of danger for our kids and our families. Right now, I’m the only woman in this battleground state running for Senate, and I carry the voice of Arizona women and moms with me every day.”
