Arizona Republicans Are Racing to Disavow the State’s New Anti-Abortion Ruling

“I think voters aren’t going to be happy,” Sen. Mark Kelly told NOTUS.

Kari Lake

Republican Kari Lake said she opposed the ruling but called the ban a “great law” in 2022, highlighting how much of a political flash point abortion has become for the GOP. Alex Brandon/AP

Multiple Arizona Republicans on Tuesday rushed to oppose a ruling from the state’s Supreme Court allowing a 160-year-old law banning nearly all abortions to go into effect — highlighting how much of a political flash point abortion has become for the GOP in 2024.

“I am the only woman and mother in this race. I understand the fear, anxiety and joy of pregnancy and motherhood,” said Senate GOP hopeful Kari Lake. “I oppose today’s ruling, and I am calling on [Gov.] Katie Hobbs and the State Legislature to come up with an immediate common sense solution that Arizonans can support.” (Lake called the ban a “great law” in 2022 when she was running for governor.)

Similarly, Rep. Juan Ciscomani, who is running for reelection in the fall, called the ruling “a disaster for women and providers.” He said the pre-Roe ban is “archaic” and, like Lake, called on state lawmakers “to immediately address this in a bipartisan manner.”