Arizona Republicans Preventing Democrats from Repealing 1864 Abortion Ban

Efforts by Democrats in the Arizona House of Representatives to repeal an 1864 ban on abortion faced opposition from Republicans on Wednesday. The legislature, closely divided, saw multiple attempts to bring a repeal bill to the floor fail with a deadlock of 30-30. The final outcome remained in suspense as the chamber went into recess. Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs criticized Republicans blocking the repeal as “extremists,” calling for the outdated law to be overturned.

If the repeal passes in the House, Democrats will also need support in the Senate, where Republicans have a 16-14 edge. A recent state Supreme Court ruling has revived a ban on almost all abortions under a law from the Civil War era when Arizona was not yet a state.

The ruling has reignited a national debate on abortion rights ahead of the upcoming election. Arizona Democrats have been pushing to repeal the ban, seeking to restore abortion rights through legislative and ballot measures.

Republican Representative Matt Gress crossed party lines to support the repeal, but one more vote is needed. Republicans who have softened their stance on abortion face pressure from both sides of the debate. The possibility of repealing the 1864 law would still leave in place a stricter law passed in 2022 banning abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy.

As the issue continues to divide lawmakers and voters, the future of abortion rights in Arizona remains uncertain. The pressure on lawmakers to uphold their promises and represent their constituents adds complexity to an already contentious debate.