Kari Lake Tells Arizonans to Travel for Abortion

Kari Lake said Tuesday that Arizonans could travel to have an abortion, following a recent state Supreme Court ruling.

Lake, the front-runner in the Arizona Republican Senate primary, said that residents could "travel three hours" if they wanted to have an abortion, now that the state has upheld a strict ban that dates to 1864—48 years before joining the Union. Arizona was part of Spanish and Mexican territories until it was ceded to the United States in 1848 and became a separate territory in 1863.

The Arizona Supreme Court last week ruled that the state must abide by the 1864 law that makes abortion punishable by between two and five years in prison. The only exception is if the mother's life is at risk due to the pregnancy.

Speaking at a campaign event Tuesday, Lake told the audience: "You can go three hours that way, three hours that way, and you're going to be able to have an abortion," making reference to neighboring states like California with less strict abortion laws.

Democratic Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes said she will not prosecute anyone over the abortion ban during her term.

The ruling could still shut down clinics across Arizona. Californian lawmakers have made it clear that anyone needing an abortion will be welcomed, however, reaffirming a previous promise. Planned Parenthood said it is preparing for the influx of Arizonans across state lines following the ruling.

Despite many calling abortion an abomination, state lawmakers said they could vote to repeal the law, potentially as early as Wednesday. Many conservatives across the country fear the backlash against abortion laws could hurt presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump's presidential campaign.

Lake previously described the Civil War-era legislation as a "great law" but recently lobbied lawmakers to repeal the ban, believing it to be "out of step with Arizonans."

Asked about her change of mind on abortion during the campaign event Tuesday, Lake said she "never shifted" in terms of her opposition to a federal abortion ban and also downplayed Arizona's upheld ban by suggesting anyone pregnant could travel to another state.

"Everyone's fighting about a law that's not even going to be enforced here in Arizona," Lake said. "Even if we have a restrictive law here, you can go three hours that way, three hours that way, and you're going to be able to have an abortion."

Lake's leading Democrat opponent for the November election, Representative Ruben Gallego, has criticized her, framing the upcoming vote as a referendum on the issue.

"She wanted this to happen," Gallego said. "They all did. Do not let them lie to you."

Lake still faces a challenge from Mark Lamb, the Pinal County sheriff, when state Republicans vote in the primary on July 30.

Newsweek approached Lake for comment.