Arizona lawmakers on Wednesday were poised to repeal a Civil War-era law that banned nearly all abortions, after Republican senators joined with all Democrats.
The Republican-controlled Senate had enough votes to pass legislation repealing the 1864 law by a razor-thin margin, 16-14. All 14 Democrats were joined by two Republicans; Sens. Shawnna Bolick and T.J. Shope. However, voting remained open as of 4 p.m. EST, as senators continued to explain their votes.
The bill next heads to Gov. Katie Hobbs (D), who has promised to sign it.
“This is a clear statement that the Legislature does not want the territorial ban to be enforceable,” said state Sen. Priya Sundareshan (D), who voted yes to repeal.
The 1864 ban has divided Republicans in the state and nationally. Some Republicans, including former President Trump and Senate hopeful Kari Lake, want to see the law repealed, saying it goes too far and is inappropriate for the modern era.
Lake has flipped back and forth on how she speaks about the 1864 measure. In 2022, while she was running for governor of Arizona, she called it a “great law.”
Still, Republicans recognize that the backlash against the 1864 law could upend conservative majorities in the state and hurt Trump’s campaign in the crucial swing state.
Arizona became the latest battleground state over abortion access when the state Supreme Court upheld the ban on nearly all abortions in the state except in instances to save the life of the mother. The law also imposes jail time for physicians who perform abortions.
Wednesday’s vote comes one week after the GOP-controlled House narrowly passed its version of repeal, with three Republicans joining Democrats.
Even if Hobbs signs the repeal this week, it can’t go into effect until 90 days after the legislative session ends and there is currently no adjournment date.
Attorney General Kris Mayes (D) this week asked the state Supreme Court to pause its ruling, which will now take effect June 27 at the earliest.
Once the repeal is official, the state would revert to the 15-week ban that was invalidated by the court. Like the 1864 ban, the 15-week law does not make any exceptions for rape or incest.
Abortion-rights advocates have been gathering signatures to place a referendum on the ballot that would protect access until the point of fetal viability, or roughly 24 weeks of pregnancy.
Republicans now want to attempt to introduce their own, to limit abortion at 15 weeks or potentially six weeks. If both chambers of the Legislature can pass the same language, it would automatically get on the ballot in November.
