By SOPHIE AUSTIN (Associated Press/Report for America)
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a proposal on Wednesday to allow Arizona doctors to conduct abortions in California, bypassing a prohibition on almost all abortions in Arizona.
The proposal would only be applicable to doctors who are licensed in good standing in Arizona and their patients, and would be valid until the end of November. Arizona's law, enacted in 1864, prohibits almost all abortions except in cases where the mother's life is at risk, and is set to take effect on June 8.
“Arizona Republicans continue to put women in danger by embracing a harsh law that was passed when Arizona was a territory, not yet a state,” stated Newsom. “California will not stand by passively.”
In addition to Arizona, 14 other states have outlawed abortion at all stages of pregnancy. Although abortion access in California has never been seriously threatened, Newsom — widely viewed as a potential presidential candidate beyond 2024 — has made defending this access a priority of his administration.
Newsom advocated for embedding abortion access into the California Constitution. He allocated $20 million of public funds to assist with the expenses of women from other states who come to California for abortions. He enacted numerous laws aimed at making it more difficult for other states to investigate women coming to California for abortions, including prohibiting social media companies from complying with subpoenas or warrants.
Despite some of the state's other issues, such as homelessness, wildfire insurance, and significant budget deficits, his actions have earned him the support of the Democratic Party's core voters.
In 2022, following the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, California launched a publicly-funded website to promote the state's abortion services, including details about financial assistance for travel costs, and informing teenagers from other states that California does not require parental permission for them to obtain an abortion in the state.
This has also become a key focus in Newsom's role as a leading advocate for President Joe Biden's reelection campaign. Using leftover funds from his 2022 reelection campaign, Newsom established a political action committee named the “ Campaign for Democracy ,” which has financed billboards and television advertisements in Republican-led states to criticize their leaders' efforts to prohibit or restrict abortion access. In February, he launched advertisements in multiple states criticizing proposals there that sought to forbid out-of-state travel for abortions.
When an Alabama lawmaker introduced a bill to criminalize helping individuals under 18 obtain an abortion without informing their parents or guardians, Newsom sponsored an advertisement depicting a young woman attempting to leave the state, only to be halted by a police officer who insists she take a pregnancy test.
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Sophie Austin reported from Sacramento. Austin is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Austin on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter: @sophieadanna
