Hours after the Arizona Supreme Court upheld a near-total ban on abortion, many Arizona Republicans who previously supported the end of federal protections for the procedure began to distance themselves from the ruling. Some Republicans issued statements in opposition to the ruling, with Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake expressing that she believes abortion laws should be determined by each individual state and its people. President Trump, who has claimed credit for the overturning of Roe v. Wade, has pushed for states to have the authority to decide on abortion laws.
Representative David Schweikert and Representative Juan Ciscomani, both Republicans, also denounced the ruling, stating that abortion should be decided by the people of Arizona rather than legislated from the bench. Schweikert, a co-sponsor of the Life at Conception Act, praised the fall of Roe v. Wade in 2022. Ciscomani labeled the Civil War-era law as archaic and expressed concern for the impact on women and providers. Both politicians are facing competitive re-election races, with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee accusing them of working to restrict access to abortion care.
In addition to Republican legislators, State Rep. T.J. Shope condemned the ruling as disappointing and pledged to work towards repealing the law in favor of a 15-week abortion law signed by former Governor Doug Ducey. Ducey, also a Republican, expressed that the ruling was not his preferred outcome. The upheld law outlaws abortion from the moment of conception but includes an exception to save the woman’s life. State Rep. Matt Gress, who supported a 15-week abortion ban, criticized the ruling and called for the repeal of the ban to restore modern-day protections for Arizona women.
Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen and House Speaker Ben Toma, both Republicans, stated that they were reviewing the court’s ruling to determine the best course of action for the legislature. They have yet to commit to a repeal effort, with a spokesperson for Arizona Senate Republicans declining to confirm whether they would pursue such action. The ruling effectively overturns a lower court’s decision that the 15-week ban from 2022 superseded the 1864 law. The political atmosphere surrounding the enforcement of this ban is contentious, with Republicans and Democrats alike weighing in on the moral and legal implications of the decision.
In conclusion, the response to the Arizona Supreme Court’s ruling on a near-total ban on abortion has sparked controversy and division within the Republican Party in the state. While some Republicans have distanced themselves from the ruling, others continue to support it, citing individual state rights and the sanctity of life. The decision to uphold the ban has reignited the debate on abortion legislation, with advocates on both sides expressing their concerns and intentions for future action. The aftermath of this ruling is likely to have far-reaching implications for women’s reproductive rights and the political landscape in Arizona and beyond.
