The Arizona state House has passed a repeal of an archaic law banning abortion, with a small number of Republicans joining Democrats on the third attempt to overturn the ban.
Arizona Supreme Court ruled earlier this month that the near-total abortion ban enacted in 1864 was still enforceable. The ruling immediately sparked outrage from Democrats who support abortion rights and concerns from some Republicans that the restrictive law could be a liability in the November election.
Despite former President Donald Trump calling on Arizona lawmakers to get the ban "straightened out," Republicans blocked two previous efforts to repeal the law in the state House earlier this month.
On Wednesday, three Republicans joined with all 29 Democrats in the chamber to pass the repeal. The bill will still need to pass in the state Senate before Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs can sign it into law.
The Context
Following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to dismantle federal abortion protections by overturning the landmark 1973 ruling Roe v. Wade in 2022, the procedure remained legal in Arizona through 15 weeks of pregnancy.
On April 9, the Arizona Supreme Court revived the law that was first enacted during the Civil War, decades before Arizona was even a state. The law allows abortion only in cases where "it is necessary to save" the mother's life and does not include any exceptions for rape or incest.
The first repeal attempt failed in the state House one day after the law was revived. Democratic lawmakers chanted "shame" at their Republican colleagues during a tense session. A second attempt to repeal the law in the House failed last week due to only one Republican supporting the repeal in the closely divided chamber.
What We Know
The repeal passed by a vote of 32-28. Three Republicans—Representatives Matt Gress and Justin Wilmeth of Phoenix and Tim Dunn of Yuma—joined Democrats to back the repeal.
A majority of Republicans in the House opposed the reversal, with several reportedly making passionate speeches against abortion rights. GOP Representative Barbara Parker of Mesa said that she could "hear their silent screams," in reference to unborn children, before voting "no," according to The Arizona Republic.
Views
In a statement emailed to Newsweek, Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee National Press Secretary Sam Paisley celebrated the repeal as a "clear victory" for Democrats, while calling on the state legislature to also overturn the 15-week ban that will remain if the repeal becomes law.
"Today is a clear victory for Arizona House Democrats," Paisley said. "Still, an unpopular and dangerous 15-week abortion ban remains. The only way to protect reproductive freedoms is to elect Democrats to the legislature to repeal this ban too."
"Republicans' anti-abortion extremism couldn't be more apparent," she added. "Only under serious national pressure and concern for their political future did Republicans cave. Arizona Republicans are too extreme and out of step with voters."
What's Next
While Hobbs is virtually certain to sign the appeal into law if it reaches her desk, the bill still has to be passed in the state Senate, which like the House is controlled by a slim Republican majority.
The Senate could take up the bill as soon as next week, although rules in the chamber dictate that the earliest it could be passed would be sometime next month.
An initiative to enshrine abortion rights in the Arizona state constitution may be headed to the ballot in November, which some experts have suggested could inspire a surge in Democratic voter turnout.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Aila Slisco is a Newsweek night reporter based in New York. Her focus is on reporting national politics, where she ... Read more
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