Arizona Can Repeal Abortion Ban After Shocking Defection
Two Republican state senators broke ranks to overturn the 160-year-old law.
The Arizona legislature secured just enough votes on Wednesday to repeal a 160-year-old abortion ban that was revived by the state’s Supreme Court in April. The decision to nix the archaic law appears on track to pass thanks to the votes of every Democratic lawmaker, as well as two Senate Republicans.
If the bill passes, it will go to Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs, who is expected to sign it.
The near-total abortion ban from 1864—before Arizona was even a state—offers no exceptions for instances of rape or incest. But some Republicans in the state, especially the ones currently on the campaign trail, immediately came out against it, including Senate candidate Kari Lake, Representative David Schweikert, and Representative Juan Ciscomani.
This is a developing story.