Fox Arizona network accidentally airs 'test' election results from Associated Press showing GOP loss

A Fox news affiliate in Arizona this week generated controversy when it inadvertently aired what it later said were "test" election results showing a decisive loss for Republican gubernatorial contender Kari Lake and a victory for Democratic candidate Katie Hobbs. 

The graphic showed Hobbs with a 53% victory over Lake's 47%. Lake herself criticized the inexplicable display on her Twitter account, claiming the network "called the election for [Hobbs] TWELVE DAYS before Election Day."

Following criticism on social media, the network said on its Twitter account that the graphic represented "test results for the upcoming election" that had been "generated by the Associated Press which distributes results to clients."

"This graphic was never meant to go on air — the numbers were only part of a test," the network wrote. "The station has taken steps to make sure this cannot happen again."

Numerous polls show Lake with leads ahead of Hobbs ranging from +3 to +11; RealClearPolitics projects that Lake will ultimately prevail in the contest.