Republican Senate candidate Kari Lake released a statement on Tuesday opposing an Arizona Supreme Court ruling that bans nearly all abortions, with exceptions only to save the mother's life.
She called on her bitter rival, Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs, and the state Legislature "to come up with an immediate common-sense solution that Arizonans can support." She added: "Ultimately, Arizona voters will make the decision on the ballot come November."
Tuesday's ruling says the state must abide by an 1864 code that bars all abortions except when "it is necessary to save" the mother's life. That does not include exceptions for cases of rape or incest. Before Tuesday's ruling, abortion had been legal in Arizona through 15 weeks of pregnancy.
Hobbs, along with state Attorney General Kris Mayes, also a Democrat, spoke out against the ruling on Tuesday.
"It is a dark day in Arizona," Hobbs posted on X, formerly Twitter. "We are just fourteen days away from one of the most extreme abortion bans in the country. But my message to Arizona women is this: I won't rest, and I won't stop fighting until we have secured the right to abortion. That is my promise to you."
Newsweek reached out to Lake via her campaign website and Hobbs via email on Tuesday afternoon. This story will be updated with any comments.
In a March interview with NBC News, Lake seemed to shift her position on the abortion issue when she called the state's previous 15-week limit "a good law." In February 2022 while running for Arizona governor, she said in a debate that she hoped the Supreme Court would "do the right thing" and overturn Roe v. Wade.
"We have a great law on the books right now. If that happens, we will be a state where we will not be taking the lives of our unborn anymore," Lake said about the 1864 ban potentially taking effect if Roe was overturned.
Lake, a Donald Trump-endorsed U.S. Senate candidate, is vying for independent Senator Kyrsten Sinema's seat, along with Democratic Representative Ruben Gallego. Sinema announced last month that she would not seek reelection.
On Tuesday, Lake said she agreed with Trump's recent statement on the abortion issue. Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, said his administration would largely allow individual states to craft their own policies surrounding reproductive rights in a video posted to Truth Social on Monday morning, noting that states will be "different" on the issue.
Lake continued in her statement: "I am the only woman and mother in this race. I understand the fear and anxiety of pregnancy, and the joy of motherhood. I wholeheartedly agree with President Trump — this is a very personal issue that should be determined by each individual state and her people."
If elected, she said she will oppose federal funding and federal bans on abortion. Lake also said she would work to make adoption more accessible and affordable, protecting IVF, paid family leave and investing in child care.
Lake lost to Hobbs by more than 17,000 votes in the 2022 Arizona gubernatorial election but claims the election was stolen from her. There is no evidence to support Lake's claims.
Republican Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer, who has sued Lake for defamation over her stolen-election claims, said he has faced "violent vitriol and other dire consequences" because of Lake's allegations, including death threats.
Last month, Lake declined to defend herself against the lawsuit, asking a judge to skip to the damages phase of the case.
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Gabe Whisnant is Deputy Weekend Editor at Newsweek based in South Carolina. Prior to joining Newsweek in 2023, he directed ... Read more
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