Both candidates for the Arizona Senate have stated that they disagree with the state Supreme Court’s decision on Tuesday, which upholds one of the strictest abortion bans in the country.
The court’s decision enforces a law from 1864 that prohibits abortion in all cases except when the mother's life is at risk. Representative Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) and GOP candidate Kari Lake have both called for the reversal of the ruling.
Lake, who has previously expressed support for strict abortion bans, now says the Legislature should decide on abortion rights legislation. called the 1864 law “great” and showed support for strict abortion bans, said the Legislature should instead decide on abortion rights legislation. The comments come just a day after former President Trump said the issue should be left to states.
“I understand the fear and anxiety of pregnancy, and the joy of motherhood. I wholeheartedly agree with President Trump — this is a very personal issue that should be determined by each individual state and her people,” she said in a statement. “I oppose today’s ruling, and I am calling on [Gov.] Katie Hobbs and the State Legislature to come up with an immediate common sense solution that Arizonans can support.”
Meanwhile, Gallego has reaffirmed his support for abortion rights.
“Today’s ruling is devastating for Arizona women and their families,” he said. “This is not what Arizonans want.”
“This decision takes away women's right to make their own healthcare decisions with their doctors,” he continued. “I promise you that we will fight this together. And with your help, we will win.”
Gallego also shared Lake’s previous comments on the 1864 bill hours after the ruling, using them as an attack on her record.
“I won’t let Kari Lake distort the record,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “She called this law a ‘great law’ — even though it will ban nearly all abortions, including in cases of rape or incest.”
Abortion rights will be a primary concern in the 2024 election, as similar statewide abortion issues are gaining attention in Florida and other important states. Arizona is expected to have one of the most closely contested races, both in the Senate and the presidential election.
A constitutional amendment concerning abortion rights will likely appear on the Arizona ballot in November, following the announcement from a petition group that they gathered enough signatures to get on the ballot last week.
Disputes over abortion rights have generally favored Democrats nationwide since the Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade precedent in 2022, attracting moderates to the Democratic Party and increasing turnout among women and young people. The Biden campaign has emphasized the issue, hoping to take advantage of the divisive topic.
Biden also warned that the state decision could be a sign of things to come on the national level in a statement Tuesday.
“Millions of Arizonans will soon live under an even more extreme and dangerous abortion ban, which fails to protect women even when their health is at risk or in tragic cases of rape or incest,” Biden said.
“This cruel ban was first enacted in 1864 — more than 150 years ago, before Arizona was even a state and well before women had secured the right to vote,” the president continued. “This ruling is a result of the extreme agenda of Republican elected officials who are committed to ripping away women’s freedom.”
Vice President Harris is also planning to go to Arizona on Friday to talk about abortion rights, the White House said after the court’s decision.
