Arizona House Republicans again blocked the repeal of a centuries-old law that bans most abortions in the state, including in the cases of rape and incest.
The Senate, in contrast, took a step toward repealing it, with the clashing measures leaving its future uncertain. The state's House speaker, a Republican, has vowed to continue blocking such efforts.
Both chambers of the local legislature are practically deadlocked when it comes to the issue: the House block passed with a 30-30 vote, the Senate one doing so by 16-14.
Some Republicans have joined Democrats to support the repeal efforts, as the near-total ban (the only exception being when a mother's life is in danger) is proving to be a politically trying issue. Republican presumptive nominee Donald Trump and Kari Lake, running to the national Senate for the state, have spoken against the measure saying it goes too far.
Even if the repeal were to pass, something that continues to be unlikely, the earliest it could go into effect is June 8, according to Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes. "In the meantime, my office is analyzing a legal strategy to fight back and planning for what will happen if we are unsuccessful, Lives are on the line here," she said on X (formerly Twitter).
Update: The earliest the outrageous 1864 near-total abortion ban could take effect is June 8. In the meantime, my office is analyzing a legal strategy to fight back and planning for what will happen if we are unsuccessful. Lives are on the line here. pic.twitter.com/CCHEqKoMTx
— AZ Attorney General Kris Mayes (@AZAGMayes) April 16, 2024
Arizona is now the 15th state to prohibit abortion at all stages of pregnancy.
Democrats have been galvanized by the initiatives, seeking to enshrine abortion rights in state constitutions in the November elections.
Advocates in Arizona recently claimed to have gathered enough signatures to put abortion rights on the ballot, an initiative that has so far proven to always be winning at the voting booth.
There are a total of eleven states that are likely to take abortion rights measures on the ballot in November: Florida, Maryland and New York are confirmed, while Arizona, Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, Nevada, Missouri and Arkansas are still moving towards this.
Over two thirds of Latinos (68%) oppose abortion bans, according to a poll by Axios Poll from this week. More prefer Joe Biden's stance on the issue (30%) compared to Donald Trump (21%).
Democrats are also specifically targeting this demographic, NBC News reported. The message will be focused on personal freedoms and access to reproductive health care.
"This is fundamentally about freedom. And it is something ... Latino voters really, really care about," Victoria McGroary, the executive director of BOLD PAC, the Democratic-aligned campaign arm of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, told NBC News.
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