Arizona Governor Doug Ducey is standing by his choice to again a state Senate candidate linked to white nationalists, saying, "she's nonetheless higher than" her Democratic opponent.

The Republican governor doubled down on his help of far-right state Senator Wendy Rogers in a video that was posted on-line Thursday. The governor's remarks present the extent extremist components have built-in into the Republican social gathering and grow to be a part of its governing coalition, notably in a carefully divided state.

Within the video, Ducey was requested if he was "nonetheless pleased" concerning the $500,000 he directed towards Rogers' 2020 marketing campaign since she has grow to be "extraordinarily controversial" for having ties to the "white nationalist" motion.

Ducey responded that he wanted a "governing majority" to make investments within the social security web and training.

"So that is what I need to do is transfer my agenda ahead," continued Ducey. "I am happy with what we have been capable of accomplish, and he or she's nonetheless higher than her opponent, Felicia French."

Gov. Doug Ducey At Event
Arizona Governor Doug Ducey (R) listens as U.S. President Joe Biden speaks throughout an occasion on the White Home with members of the Nationwide Governors Affiliation on January 31, 2022, in Washington, D.C.Win McNamee/Getty Photos

French, a Democrat, misplaced to Rogers within the 2020 race for a state Senate seat representing northern and central elements of Arizona. The end result of the race gave Republicans a slender 16-14 majority within the Senate.

Since taking workplace, Rogers has attracted controversy for her affiliation with far-right actions and figures.

Rogers, a member of the antigovernment Oath Keepers, has claimed the 2020 presidential election was stolen, and gave an interview to a web based discuss present whose founder has referred to as Jews "deceivers" and claimed the U.S. has been "taken over by a Jewish cabal," in accordance with a 2021 article in The Informant.

A tweet by Rogers final yr used language much like that utilized by white supremacists. Rogers retweeted a BreitbartTexas article about migrants apprehended on the southern border, writing "we're being changed and invaded." Rogers later defended herself on Twitter.

"I cannot again down from this assertion," she stated, "Communists & our enemies are utilizing mass immigration, training."

Rogers has additionally appeared on a podcast that frequently traffics in conspiracy theories to push claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen, Newsweek beforehand reported.

Final yr, the senator took to Twitter to name New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern "Lenin with Hair" and stated "extra daring Christians are wanted in workplace to counter the satanic Communists in each events."

Rogers on Thursday reacted to Ducey's remarks with a tweet: "Thanks, Governor."

Newsweek has reached out to Rogers and Ducey for remark.