Republican Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake recently expressed her disappointment in an interview with an Idaho media outlet. She specifically mentioned her frustration with the lack of enforcement of Arizona’s 1864 law, which effectively bans nearly all abortions. This is a surprising shift in Lake’s stance, as she had previously stated that the revived law went too far.
In a recent video interview with the Idaho Dispatch, Lake expressed his frustration with the current state leadership, stating, “The Arizona Supreme Court has made it clear that this is the law of Arizona. However, regrettably, those in power have chosen not to enforce it.”
Related posts
She added that although many of us wish we had that law, we don’t currently have it.
Lake’s campaign has yet to address the concerns raised regarding her comments, which were in response to criticisms from the anti-abortion organization, Idaho Chooses Life.
Arizona’s state Supreme Court recently reaffirmed a law from the Civil War era that prohibits almost all abortions in the state, with the exception of cases where the mother’s life is at risk. Additionally, the law imposes penalties, including potential imprisonment, for doctors who perform abortions.
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs (D) and Attorney General Kris Mayes (D) have announced that they will not enforce the law and have no intention of prosecuting providers.
In a recent letter to hospitals and doctors, Mayes stated that her office is actively exploring all available legal options to prevent the law from taking effect before June 8.
Lake, a candidate running for the Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I), has been inconsistent in her stance on the 1864 measure. During her campaign for governor of Arizona in 2022, she described it as a “great law.”
However, Lake’s perspective changed after the ruling.
In a video shared on the social platform X on April 11, she expressed her disagreement with the Arizona Supreme Court’s decision to implement a complete ban on abortion, stating that it does not align with the beliefs of the people in the state.
“I align with President Trump’s viewpoint on this matter, acknowledging the need for exceptions in cases of rape, incest, and to protect the life of the mother,” she expressed.
According to reports, Lake has been actively persuading Republican members of Arizona’s Legislature to repeal the ban. If successful, this would result in the state reverting back to its 2022 law, which prohibits abortion after 15 weeks.
The 15-week ban, similar to the 1864 law, does not provide any exceptions for cases of rape or incest.
