A proposed repeal of Arizona's near-total abortion ban, which predated the state's founding, gained approval Wednesday in the Republican-controlled state House after two weeks of mounting pressure on the GOP from former President Donald Trump and Republican U.S. Senate candidate Kari Lake. The bill received bipartisan support, with three Republicans joining all 29 Democrats to repeal the ban that lacks exceptions for rape or incest, allowing abortions up to 15 weeks if approved by the Senate. The issue has been a point of contention in Arizona, a key battleground state in national politics, with Trump and Lake pushing for the restrictions to be eased as part of their political campaigns.
Most state House Republicans had previously blocked attempts to repeal the ban. However, their opposition faced criticism from Democratic President Joe Biden, who has emphasized his support for abortion rights as a key element of his reelection strategy. Biden, along with Democratic Senator Priya Sundareshan of Tucson, highlighted the adverse impact of Trump's actions on women's healthcare, stating that Arizonians are effectively living in 1864 due to the erosion of Roe v. Wade. The recent vote to repeal the ban is seen as a shift towards progress, according to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, signaling a step in the right direction for women's healthcare in the state and beyond.
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