Arizona’s MAGA wolves are preparing to eat their own to replace Debbie Lesko in CD 8

In recent years, Donald Trump and his carnivorous pack of howling, growling, backbiting followers have forced otherwise buttoned-up, office-bound political scientists to morph into politically attentive wildlife biologists.

Through field observations, these newly minted researchers noted unusual similarities between the natural world, where animals live, and the unnatural world of governance and electioneering.

For example, biologists know that animals will do whatever it takes to survive.

Since Donald Trump entered politics, however, cannibalism has been observed among hippopotamuses, hamsters, red squirrels, chimpanzees and … MAGA Republicans.

Trump eats his own. Some bite back

Trump himself has proven to be the most politically anthropophagous (look it up) of his species.

He has chewed up and spit out dozens of the cronies whom he elevated to the nation’s highest appointed positions.

And many of them are biting back.

His former attorney general Bill Barr told NBC News, “I have made clear that I strongly oppose Trump for the nomination and will not endorse Trump.”

His former chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, said, “I am working hard to make sure that someone else is the (Republican Party’s) nominee.”

He’s been criticized and/or lacks the support of his former secretary of state and CIA director, Mike Pompeo; a former defense secretary, Pat Shanahan; one former chief of staff, John Kelly; and two of his directors of national intelligence, Joseph Maguire and Dan Coats.

The list goes on.

Gosar and Lake are split over CD 8

So, it shouldn’t surprise anyone that MAGA sycophants like Arizona Republican Rep. Paul Gosar and failed governor candidate and current U.S. Senate candidate Kari Lake, who supported one another in previous elections, are at loggerheads when it comes to who should replace retiring Rep. Debbie Lesko in Arizona’s heavily Republican Congressional District 8.

Gosar is backing failed Republican U.S. Senate candidate Blake Masters, saying on social media, “Blake Masters is America first through and through. He’ll help us implement Trump’s agenda and make our country great again. Blake is exactly who we need to stand up to the Uniparty Establishment and he has my complete support.”

Can't anyone who lives in CD 8: Run to represent the district?

Lake, on the other hand, is backing failed Arizona Attorney General candidate Abe Hamadeh, calling him “a relentless fighter for Arizonans. He is truly our Happy Warrior. He stayed in the political arena and fought for election integrity while others hid.

“Abe lived and went to three schools in Arizona’s Eighth District, and he’s running for Congress to give back to the community that made him the man he is today. I’m proud to call Abe a friend and honored to give him my endorsement.”

They're the same, so why fight?

I’d guess Lake’s endorsement doesn’t come because she particularly likes Hamadeh, but because she did NOT like the fact that Masters thought of challenging her for the Senate nomination.

There are other, lesser MAGAs in the race as well, snacks for the alpha predators.

The competition must seem odd to casual observers. Masters and Hamadeh are of the same stripe, the same breed.

Essentially, they’re the same person. They share a lack of qualifications, a fealty to Trump and a history of losing.

But this is a different kind of pack.

They eat their own.

Reach Montini at ed.montini@arizonarepublic.com

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Kari Lake and Paul Gosar may eat their own in an Arizona House race