After the Arizona Supreme Court upheld an 1864 abortion law banning the procedure in all instances except to save the life of the mother, Republican Senate candidate Kari Lake slammed the decision as being “out of step with Arizonans.”
“I have traveled to every corner of this state on the campaign trail,” Lake said in a statement on Tuesday. “I speak to more Arizonans than anyone and it is abundantly clear that the pre-statehood law is out of step with Arizonans.”
But, Lake’s stance on the law is a reversal from just two years when she called the law “great” in her bid for governor and said it could serve as a blueprint for other states to follow.
“I’m incredibly thrilled that we are going to have a great law that’s already on the books,” Lake told a local radio station about the 1864 law, according to Politifact.
“It will prohibit abortion in Arizona except to save the life of a mother. And I think we’re going to be paving the way and setting course for other states to follow,” Lake added.
Lake’s desperate attempt to moderate her stance on abortion comes as Republicans have taken a beating at the ballot box in key states after the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade due to their extreme abortion views.
Lake is running against Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego in a crucial Senate race that could determine control of the upper chamber.
Gallego slammed the Arizona Supreme Court decision in a statement on X/Twitter: “Today’s ruling is devastating for Arizona women and their families.This is not what Arizonans want.”
“This decision rips away the right for women to make their own healthcare decisions with their doctors,” he continued. “I promise you that we will fight this together. And with your help, we will win.”
Gallego also shared Lake’s comments where she praised the 1864 law in 2022 saying he “won’t let Kari Lake distort the record.”
