Arizona lawmakers voted to repeal an abortion ban that dates back to 1864, first passed before women had the right to vote. The repeal bill passed the State Senate with bipartisan support and is expected to be signed by the Democratic governor. The law was rarely enforced until a recent decision by the State Supreme Court allowed it to be enforced due to the overturning of Roe v. Wade, galvanizing both Democratic voters and anti-abortion activists. The repeal has created a rift within the Republican party, with some supporting the ban while others fear a backlash due to a near-total ban with no exceptions for rape or incest.
Two Republican state senators joined forces with Democrats to push for the repeal bill, despite strong opposition from far-right Republicans. Senator Shawnna Bolick, one of the Republicans who voted to repeal the ban, shared a personal story of her challenging pregnancies, including an abortion procedure in her first trimester due to a non-viable fetus. She faced backlash from anti-abortion activists who disrupted the vote with angry shouts. Several anti-abortion lawmakers equated abortions to Naziism and made extreme statements about the repeal.
Democratic legislators largely supported the repeal bill, with Senator Eva Burch sharing her emotional experience with having an abortion to end a nonviable pregnancy this spring. Attempts to force a vote on the repeal bill had been previously blocked by conservative lawmakers. Last week, three Republican members of the House voted with Democrats to repeal the ban, sending it to the Senate for approval. Anti-abortion activists gathered outside the Capitol before the vote to urge lawmakers to reconsider, with some engaging in arguments with abortion rights supporters.
After the Senate vote, a Democratic representative expressed excitement that the bill was finally on its way to the governor’s desk, noting that it will save lives. However, efforts are ongoing to put an abortion-rights ballot measure before Arizona voters in November to enshrine abortion protections in the state constitution. The repeal of the 1864 law has sparked debate within Arizona’s political landscape, creating tensions within the Republican party and drawing attention from activists on both sides of the abortion issue. The repeal represents a significant shift in Arizona’s stance on abortion and is likely to impact the upcoming election cycle.
