Recent financial disclosures for Arizona US Senate candidate Kari Lake reveal a notable trend: the intertwining of family finances with her political endeavors. The former news anchor, now vying for a Senate seat, has leveraged both internal and external avenues to bolster her personal wealth, with a significant portion flowing through ventures involving her family.
One striking example is ZenVideo, a video production company owned by Lake and her husband, Jeff Halperin. Campaign finance records submitted to the Federal Elections Commission indicate that Lake’s Senate campaign paid ZenVideo just over $8,000 for video production services. This figure marks a substantial increase compared to her previous run for governor.
During her gubernatorial campaign, ZenVideo received $2,200 for its services throughout the entire race. However, in just four months of her Senate campaign, Lake’s team has directed nearly quadruple that amount to her family’s company, utilizing supporters’ donations. This significant jump in payments to ZenVideo raises eyebrows and invites closer examination of campaign expenditure practices.
Jeff Halperin, Lake’s husband, is a constant presence in her political activities. Often seen by her side with a camera, Halperin’s video work is frequently used to enhance her social media presence and promote her campaigns. While Lake’s Senate campaign has also engaged other video production companies – allocating $5,500 to AZ Media, Inc., and $550 to Charles Lemmon Cinematography – the majority of her video production budget is channeled towards her family’s business, ZenVideo.
This pattern of directing campaign funds towards family ventures is not new. The Arizona Republic previously highlighted this tendency in 2022 during Lake’s gubernatorial campaign. When questioned by reporter Stacey Barchenger about maintaining a separation between taxpayer funds and family finances if elected, Lake evaded a direct response.
Lake dismissed the inquiry, stating, “Reporters trying to play gotcha and draw lines between non-issues like this and something totally unrelated only happens to Republicans. Arizona needs a genuine leader committed to improving the lives of all of our citizens, not another career insider dedicated to lining the pockets of their friends.” However, the financial disclosures present a tangible record of campaign funds benefiting her family business.
Notably, neither Lake’s former gubernatorial opponent, Governor Katie Hobbs, nor her current Senate race rival, Representative Ruben Gallego, have a history of employing or compensating family members, according to publicly available finance reports. This contrast further underscores the unique financial practices within the Kari Lake Family’s political operations.
Beyond ZenVideo, Lake’s financial gains extend to speaking engagements and consulting work, further enriching the Kari Lake family coffers. In 2023, she earned over $75,000 in speaking fees from appearances at various political events. Additionally, a consulting contract with Superfeed Technologies, spanning 15 months in 2021 and 2022, contributed over $100,000 to her income. Superfeed Technologies, associated with right-leaning political organizations, was under the leadership of former Arizona Republican Party chair Jeff DeWit during Lake’s consulting period.
Adding to her income stream, Lake received a $100,000 advance from Winning Team Publishing for her book “Unafraid,” released in 2023. Winning Team Publishing is known for publishing works by prominent figures in far-right media and politics.
The financial disclosures paint a detailed picture of how Kari Lake and her family have strategically navigated the financial landscape of political campaigning. The significant payments to ZenVideo, coupled with other income streams, place the Kari Lake family’s finances under increased scrutiny as she progresses in her US Senate bid. As the campaign unfolds, the focus on the financial ties between Kari Lake and her family is likely to intensify, prompting further debate and examination.
