{"id":2609738,"date":"2026-06-02T17:55:57","date_gmt":"2026-06-02T21:55:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/john-curtis-open-minded-as-swing-vote-for-kari-lake-ambassador-nomination\/"},"modified":"2026-06-02T17:56:46","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T21:56:46","slug":"john-curtis-open-minded-as-swing-vote-for-kari-lake-ambassador-nomination","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/john-curtis-open-minded-as-swing-vote-for-kari-lake-ambassador-nomination\/","title":{"rendered":"John Curtis \u2018open-minded\u2019 as swing vote for Kari Lake ambassador nomination"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fjohn-curtis-open-minded-as-swing-vote-for-kari-lake-ambassador-nomination%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2609738&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Sen. John Curtis (R-UT) says he\u2019s heading into a Wednesday meeting with Kari Lake for her proposed ambassadorship to Jamaica \u201cwith an open mind,\u201d even though he has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/oversight-members-outline-pattern-of-ethical-issues-at-granholms-energy-department\/\" title=\"Oversight Members Outline \u2018Pattern of Ethical Issues... at Granholm...s Energy Department\">previously raised concerns<\/a> about her. Curtis says he expects to ask tough questions and wants to hear from Lake directly, noting that what\u2019s publicly known doesn\u2019t always fully reflect someone.<\/p>\n<p>The article also notes that other Republicans-such as Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC)-may oppose lake if the nomination reaches the Senate floor, but Curtis\u2019s role on the Foreign relations Commitee could be decisive: a \u201cno\u201d vote from him, combined with Democrats, could deadlock and derail the nomination.<\/p>\n<p>Curtis is portrayed as a swing vote at times, citing his earlier opposition to a State Department nominee, wich later withdrew. Two other Foreign Relations Committee Republicans, including Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT),plan to support Lake,with Lee pointing to her frequent trips to Jamaica and strong ties to the country.<\/p>\n<p>Lake was nominated last month alongside doug Mastriano, another trump ally facing controversy; Curtis did not mention any meeting scheduled with Mastriano.Lake did not respond to a request for comment.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/john-curtis\/\">John Curtis<\/a> (R-UT) says he is going into a Wednesday meeting with <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kari-lake\/\">Kari Lake<\/a> with an \u201copen mind\u201d as he weighs whether to sink her nomination as ambassador to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jamaica\/page\/3\/\">Jamaica<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Curtis has previously expressed reservations about Lake, a GOP firebrand who embraced President Donald Trump\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/terry-mcauliffe-championed-stolen-election-conspiracy-theory-for-years\/\" title=\"Terry McAuliffe Championed Stolen Election Conspiracy Theory for Years\">stolen election claims<\/a> as a candidate for governor and then Senate in Arizona. She later led a crusade to shutter the Voice of America, a government-funded broadcaster, before a federal judge ruled that the president improperly elevated her as its de facto leader.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4591889\/john-curtis-open-minded-swing-vote-kari-lake-ambassador\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>John Curtis \u2018<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-17-year-cicadas-are-coming-heres-how-to-cook-them-up-and-chow-them-down\/\" title=\"The 17-Year Cicadas Are Coming. Here...s How To Cook Them Up And Chow Them Down.\">open-minded<\/a>\u2019 as swing vote for Kari Lake ambassador nomination<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4591618\/bill-pulte-intelligence-concerns\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Congress blindsided by Trump\u2019s Pulte pick and questions qualifications for intelligence chief<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4590984\/watch-live-markwayne-mullin-testimony-senate-budget-request\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>WATCH LIVE: Markwayne Mullin testifies before Senate on budget request<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019m anxious to hear what she has to say,\u201d Curtis told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. \u201cI try to approach things with an open mind, and I think I\u2019ll have some hard questions about how she represents us over there, but I\u2019ll be open-minded.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Curtis is not the only Republican concerned about the ambassadorship. The <em>Washington Examiner <\/em>previously <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/DISivak\/status\/2054606069419119077?s=20\">reported<\/a> that Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) plans to oppose Lake\u2019s nomination if it reaches the Senate floor. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But Curtis\u2019s role as a member of the Foreign Relations Committee gives him outsize sway. If he votes \u201cno\u201d and all Democrats join him, the vote deadlocks and her <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >nomination effectively fails<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Curtis has also been willing to wield his influence as a swing vote on the committee. Back in February, he opposed <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2026\/03\/10\/trump-state-department-white-culture-00822112\">Jeremy Carl<\/a>, a nominee for the State Department, over his comments on race and \u201cwhite identity.\u201d Carl eventually dropped out of the running after a bruising confirmation hearing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Curtis would not point to a particular statement Lake has made that\u2019s given him pause, saying instead that \u201cit\u2019s a body of work.\u201d But he described the purpose of the meeting, first reported by the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>, as a chance to give her the benefit of the doubt.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019m the first to know that what\u2019s out there is not necessarily what represents somebody, so that\u2019s why I\u2019m meeting with her, to hear from her myself,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two other Republicans on the Foreign Relations Committee said they would support Lake\u2019s nomination. One of them, Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), said that Lake has frequently traveled to Jamaica and has a \u201cgreat connection\u201d to the island country.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI talk to Kari all the time,\u201d said Lee, Curtis\u2019s Utah colleague. \u201cShe\u2019s terrific.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lake was nominated last month alongside Doug Mastriano, another Trump ally expected to draw Republican opposition. His nomination to be ambassador to the Slovak Republic is controversial due to his <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/politics\/jan-6-committee-interview-cut-short-by-pennsylvanias-republican-nominee-for-governor\">VIP attendance<\/a> at a rally outside the Capitol before the Jan. 6 riot and efforts to help overturn the 2020 presidential election results. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4563872\/trump-kari-lake-jamaica-ambassador\/\"><strong>TRUMP TAPS KARI LAKE FOR JAMAICA AMBASSADORSHIP AFTER VOICE OF AMERICA TURMOIL<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mastriano previously mounted a failed run for Pennsylvania governor. As of now, Curtis said he has no meeting scheduled with him.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lake did not respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sen. Curtis says he\u2019ll meet Kari Lake with an \u201copen mind\u201d over her Jamaica ambassador nomination<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2651,"featured_media":2609739,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/image-collage-32rh8ztp8-1780429643060-e1780430407338.jpg?1780416026&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[80725,32775,33066,80722],"class_list":["post-2609738","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-ambassador-nomination","tag-john-curtis","tag-kari-lake","tag-swing-vote"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/image-collage-32rh8ztp8-1780429643060-e1780430407338.jpg?1780416026&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2609738","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2651"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2609738"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2609738\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2609742,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2609738\/revisions\/2609742"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2609739"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2609738"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2609738"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2609738"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}