The Republican-controlled Senate in Arizona is set to vote on repealing a Civil War-era abortion ban, following a successful vote in the state House. Three Republicans in the House joined all Democrats in voting to repeal the law, which is now awaiting action in the Senate. If the repeal is signed into law by Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, a 2022 law capping abortions at 15 weeks would eventually go into effect. The 14 Democrats in the state Senate are hoping to gain support from at least two Republicans to pass the measure.
Last month, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that the 1864 law banning nearly all abortions could go into effect, superseding a 15-week abortion ban put in place in 2022 by state Republicans. The court found that the 2022 ban was predicated on the federal right to an abortion, which was struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision. This led to the enforcement of the 1864 ban, which is set to go into effect on June 27. Former Republican Gov. Doug Ducey, who signed the 2022 law, and U.S. GOP Senate candidate Kari Lake criticized the court’s decision, while former President Donald Trump expressed confidence that the issue would be resolved quickly.
Democrats, who have been focusing on restoring abortion rights nationally, see Arizona as a key battleground, as it flipped for President Biden in 2020. Vice President Kamala Harris linked the 1864 abortion ban in Arizona to similar restrictive measures in other states, attributing them to former President Trump. The battle over abortion rights in Arizona has garnered national attention, with both sides mobilizing to support or oppose the repeal of the Civil War-era ban.
If the Senate passes the repeal on Wednesday, it will not go into effect until 90 days after the legislature adjourns. The debate over abortion rights in Arizona reflects broader tensions within the Republican Party and the broader political landscape, as both parties seek to gain ground on this contentious issue. The outcome of the vote in the Senate will have significant implications for reproductive rights in the state and could set a precedent for how other states navigate similar legal challenges in the wake of the Dobbs decision.
