Arizona Republicans blocked two attempts by Democrats in the state legislature to repeal the 1864 abortion ban that was reinstated by the state’s Supreme Court on Tuesday.
Democrats efforts to repeal the ban in the House was shot down by Republican Rep. David Livingston, who motioned for the House to recess and avoid a vote on the bill, according to the Arizona Republic.
Rep. Matt Gress, a Republican from a crucial swing district, was the lone GOP lawmaker who sided with Democrats to vote against the motion to recess.
However, State House Democrats argue that Gress’ actions were “performative” and insincere, given that last year he sponsored bills promoting personhood for fetuses.
“Matt Gress is running scared because he knows that if this ban is in place, he has a hard time winning his election,” House minority whip Rep. Nancy Gutierrez (D) said. “So, he wants this narrative out there that he is somehow the savior of women. He is not.”
In the state Senate, Republicans similarly killed a motion from Democratic state Sen. Anna Hernandez to come back from recess to reconsider the ban.
“They’re definitely blocking Democrats’ efforts to repeal this,” Hernandez said.
The move comes after Republicans on the Arizona Supreme Court upheld an 1864 law that made performing an abortion a felony.
Under the more than a century old law, abortion is punishable by up to five years in prison for anyone who performs or helps a woman obtain one. It allows for exceptions “when it is necessary” to save the life of a pregnant person.
The ban goes into effect in less than two weeks.
Some House Republicans argue that this gives them time to work out a solution before the bill takes effect. But House Speaker Ben Toma (R) who is facing a competitive GOP primary in a red district, told Axios that repealing the law is off the table.
