TUCSON, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 07: Arizona Secretary of State and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Katie Hobbs (R) looks on as Kris Mayes (L), Democratic candidate for Arizona Attorney General, speaks at a press conference calling for abortion rights outside the Evo A. DeConcini U.S. Courthouse on October 7, 2022 in Tucson, Arizona. Hobbs discussed Arizona’s near-total abortion ban, which dates back to 1864, and her aim to restore abortion rights in the state. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
The Arizona House of Representatives failed to advance a repeal of the state’s 160-year-old abortion ban again following the state Supreme Court’s decision to revive the law.
The vote marked a blow to reproductive rights and to GOP candidates who are trying to distance themselves from the controversial decision. Former President Donald Trump and U.S. Senate candidate Kari Lake, among others, called on the GOP-controlled legislature to work with Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) to take a moderate path.
After two attempts to pass a bill that would repeal Arizona’s 1864 ban on abortions, lawmakers voted against the measure.
“The last thing we should be doing today is rushing a bill through the legislative process to repeal a law that has been enacted and affirmed by the legislature several times,” House Speaker Ben Toma said during a debate.
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State Democrats, hoping to flip control of the state House and Senate, quickly highlighted the failed effort. State Sen. Priya Sundareshan, the co-chair of the Arizona Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, called the vote “a perfect example of why we need to flip” control of the chambers.
“Only then will we be able to codify abortion access and stop Republicans from interfering in our medical decisions ever again,” she said in a statement.
Democrats are hoping that voter frustration over abortion laws advanced by conservatives will help them in the upcoming election, not only in Arizona but across the country.
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