TL/DR –
U.S. Senate candidate Kari Lake has stated that Arizona’s reaffirmed Civil War-era abortion ban is not being enforced and therefore is not the law. The ban, which only allows abortions in order to save the life of the mother, has been the subject of a repeal effort by Democrats and some Republicans in the state Legislature. Lake’s stance on the issue has caused discontent among conservatives, and she has sought to refocus attention onto topics such as inflation and border security.
Arizona Senate Candidate Kari Lake Comments on Abortion Ban
Arizona’s U.S. Senate candidate Kari Lake stated on Friday that the recently reaffirmed near-total abortion ban in the state is “not the law”. She criticized the Arizona attorney general for not enforcing many existing laws and regarded this as a mere piece of paper with no enforcement.
Democratic Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes opposes the 1864 ban and is exploring legal options to prevent it from taking effect. The ban is currently under intense repeal effort by Democrats and some Republicans in the Arizona Legislature.
The Arizona Supreme Court’s ruling earlier this month, upholding an 1864 state statute that permits abortions only to save the life of the mother, has rekindled interest in protecting abortion rights and kept Republicans on the defensive for weeks.
Lake’s comments were aimed at diffusing the abortion issue while redirecting the conversation back to inflation and border security. She cited recent economic growth figures and the ongoing problem of a porous border that allows fentanyl to flood the country.
However, numerous questions Lake faced were related to the state’s shifting abortion rights landscape, which has dominated legislative activity since the Arizona Supreme Court ruling. Lake’s own statements on the subject have sparked discontent among conservatives who perceive the Republican front-runner as having inconsistent positions on the matter.
U.S. Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., the party’s whip in Washington, stood by Lake, voicing support for the candidate. Lake insists her views on abortion rights are clear, stating her goal is to “save as many babies as possible.”
In a campaign video, Lake said, “a full ban on abortion is not where the people are.” She acknowledged that some women might be economically disadvantaged, in abusive relationships, or victims of rape. She agreed with President Trump on having exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the mother.
Despite these views, Lake had previously expressed excitement at the prospect of having the 1864 law define Arizona abortion law during her 2022 gubernatorial candidacy. Recently, she downplayed the issue at a housing-themed campaign event, saying, “Everyone’s fighting about a law that’s not even going to be enforced here in Arizona.”
The Arizona House of Representatives voted to repeal the 1864 measure, with the state Senate expected to follow suit next week and send it to Gov. Katie Hobbs, a Democrat who supports repealing the law.
When asked to clarify her view, Lake reiterated her support for exceptions in cases of rape, incest, and the life of the mother. Thune also attempted to redirect his comments towards the economy and border issues.
He criticized U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., the only Democrat on the ballot in the race to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., labeling him as an “open-borders candidate” who supports higher taxes, more regulations, more federal spending, and less energy independence.
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