Arizona Democrats are gearing up for another battle to repeal a 160-year-old ban on abortion that could go into effect next month if not overturned. The old law, dating back to 1864, was revived by a recent state Supreme Court ruling, sparking outrage among those who believe in a woman’s right to choose.
Representative Stephanie Stahl Hamilton’s bill, aimed at repealing the outdated ban, is set to be brought to a vote by Arizona House Democrats. Democratic Representative Oscar De Los Santos emphasized that the decision to seek an abortion or any reproductive healthcare should be left to patients, their families, and their healthcare providers, not politicians.
The fight over the Civil War-era abortion ban in Arizona is just the latest in a series of battles over women’s reproductive rights in the United States. Since the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to leave the issue of abortion up to individual states in 2022, conservative-led states have been quick to impose strict bans on the procedure.
Even if Democrats succeed in repealing the 1864 ban, restrictions on abortion would still remain in place in Arizona, as a law passed by Republicans in 2022 prohibits abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy. With the November presidential election looming, Democrats are pushing to elevate the issue of abortion rights, confident that public opinion is on their side.
Governor Katie Hobbs has labeled the Republicans upholding the old abortion ban as “extremists” and has pledged to sign a repeal of the ban if it passes both the House and the Senate. Arizona Democrats are also working to place a ballot measure before voters in November to restore abortion rights, in a bid to protect women’s reproductive freedoms.