Arizona Democrats Condemn Abortion Ruling, GOP Silence

Phoenix—— Arizona Democrats vowed Saturday to fight for women’s rights after courts reinstated a law first enacted during the Civil War that outlawed abortion in nearly all circumstances, hoping to capitalize on an issue they hope will have a big impact on the midterm elections.

Republican candidates remained silent a day after the ruling, which said states could sue doctors and others who facilitated abortions unless necessary to save a mother’s life. Republican gubernatorial candidate Cary Lake and Senate candidate Blake Masters had no comment.

Democratic gubernatorial and attorney general candidates Katie Hobbs and Chris Mays implored women not to sit idly by this year, saying the ruling brought them back to more than a century when only men had the right to vote.

“We cannot allow (Lake) to hold public office and have the power to enact the extreme anti-choice policies she has been promoting throughout the campaign,” Hobbs said at a news conference outside the attorney general’s office. “As Arizona’s Governor, I will do everything in my power and use every tool at my disposal to restore abortion rights in Arizona.”

The ruling presents a new hurdle for Republicans already grappling with abortion politics. It angered Democrats and distracted attention from Republican attacks on President Joe Biden and his record on border security and inflation, less than three weeks before early and mail-in voting began , which is very popular in Arizona.

Abortion rights are particularly prominent among suburban women, who played a decisive role in close elections in Arizona.

“In Arizona, with a tough abortion law in place today, I think you’re going to see suburban women really looking at Democratic candidates who promise to do something,” said Republican adviser Barrett Marson. , even if it’s not their power.”

Democrats have spent tens of millions of dollars on TV ads focused on abortion rights, and women nationwide are registering to vote more than men.

The old law was first enacted in a series of laws passed in 1864 by the Arizona 1st District Legislature known as the “Howell Codes.” It was periodically re-adopted throughout the state’s history, including in 1901 and more recently in the 1970s.

Lake was positive about Arizona’s abortion ban, which she called “a great law that has gone down in history.” She called abortion the “greatest sin” and said the abortion pill should be illegal.

The gurus called abortion a “diabolical” during the Republican primary and called for a federal personality law to give fetuses human rights. He recently downplayed his rhetoric, removing references to the personality law from his campaign website and dropping language describing himself as “100 percent pro-abortion.”

Most recently, Masters said he would support a bill introduced by the senator. Lindsay Graham of RS.C. will ban abortions nationwide after 15 weeks of pregnancy, except in cases of rape, incest or a threat to the mother’s physical health. He also said he supports another Arizona law aimed at banning abortions within 15 weeks.

Neither the Lakers nor the Masters responded to requests for comment.

“Their silence speaks volumes,” said Meyers, the Democratic nominee for attorney general. “They know how unpopular this 1901 law is. They know how untenable it is. They know that when November 8 comes, the people of Arizona will vote firmly against this extreme abortion ban, This is an attack on the people of Arizona.”

If elected, Meyers said she would not enforce abortion laws and would instruct county attorneys to do the same. She said she believed it violated the state’s constitutional right to privacy.

Hobbs said she would push lawmakers to repeal the abortion ban on her first day in office, a lofty goal for a legislature widely expected to be controlled by Republicans. Failing that, she said she would support a ballot measure that would give voters a chance to decide in the 2024 election.

Hobbs also said she would veto any legislation that would further restrict abortion.

White House press secretary Karin Jean-Pierre condemned the ruling, which she said would have “catastrophic, dangerous and unacceptable” consequences.

“Make no mistake: this retrogressive decision reflects a disturbing trend of resolute disenfranchisement of women at the local and national levels by Republican officials across the country,” Jean-Pierre said in a statement.

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