Kari Lake Shocks Supporters With Surprising Statement

On Tuesday the Arizona Supreme Court reinstated a 160-year-old law, effectively enforcing a near-total ban on abortions. The pre-statehood statute, dating back to 1864, criminalizes performing an abortion or assisting in obtaining one, with exceptions only to save a woman’s life.

The ruling also overturned a lower court’s interpretation that a more recent 15-week ban, enacted in March 2022, superseded the historic ban. The decision has been met with significant backlash from abortion rights advocates and Democrats, including President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. The reinstatement of the 1864 law is seen as a direct consequence of the 2022 Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v. Wade, challenging nearly 50 years of precedent set by Roe.

After the ruling, Kari Lake broke ranks with many in her party by criticizing the court’s decision and advocating for a “common sense solution” that would align more closely with the majority of Arizona’s population.

The Republican Senate candidate opposed the state’s decision, calling it “out of step” with the views of Arizonans. The law bans abortions with the sole exception being when the patient’s life is in danger. It has been met with criticism, including from others within the Republican Party.

“I have traveled to every corner of this state on the campaign trail. I speak to more Arizonans than anyone and it is abundantly clear that the pre-statehood law is out of step with Arizonans,” said Lake.

My statement regarding today’s Arizona Supreme Court Abortion Ruling⤵️ pic.twitter.com/bNAjXd80TN

— Kari Lake (@KariLake) April 9, 2024

“I am the only woman and mother in this race. I understand the fear and anxiety of pregnancy, and the joy of motherhood. I wholeheartedly agree with President Trump — this is a very personal issue that should be determined by each individual state and her people.”

Lake finished, “I oppose today’s ruling, and I am calling on Katie Hobbs and the State Legislature to come up with an immediate common sense solution that Arizonans can support. Ultimately, Arizona voters will make the decision on the ballot come November.”

The court’s ruling is expected to energize efforts to introduce a measure on the November ballot that would protect the right to abortion in the state constitution. Vice President Kamala Harris is scheduled to visit Arizona, with abortion rights likely to be a focal point of her visit.

The stance could have significant implications for Lake’s campaign, as it appeals to moderate voters. However, it also risks alienating a portion of her base, who may view any deviation from a strict anti-abortion stance as a betrayal. Arizona’s political scene is notoriously complex, with a diverse electorate that values both conservative principles and individual freedoms.

Her statement echoed former President Donald Trump’s view that such sensitive matters should be left to individual states and their citizens. However, Lake’s stance diverges from the traditional conservative line by calling for legislative action that considers the complexities of reproductive rights, including exceptions beyond the threat to a woman’s life.

Trump released a video statement on his position on the issue of abortion for the 2024 presidential election on Monday.

“The states will determine by vote or legislation or perhaps both, and whatever they decide must be the law of the land,” Trump said. “Many states will be different. Many will have a different number of weeks, or some will [be] more conservative than others, and that’s what they will be. At the end of the day, this is all about the will of the people.”

Abortion has been a double-edged sword for Republicans, galvanizing pro-life activists for decades and culminating in the 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade. Since then, Trump has criticized other Republicans for speaking “inaccurately” about the issue while costing the GOP winnable races in conservative strongholds like Kansas and Ohio. He asked voters to “follow their heart” on the issue and reminded them of the important stakes of expanding or restricting abortion in their respective states.

“You must also win elections to restore our culture and, in fact, to save our country, which is currently and very sadly a nation in decline,” Trump said.

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The position drew a swift rebuke from Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, who said in a statement to the outlet that she is committed to helping Trump “defeat President Biden” but that the Republican leader is retreating on an issue that has helped his party win federal races for years.

“We are deeply disappointed in Trump’s position,” said Dannenfelser, who last week said she believed he would call for a 15-week national limit. “Saying the issue is ‘back to the states,’” Dannenfesler continued, “cedes the national debate to the Democrats who are working relentlessly to enact legislation mandating abortion throughout all nine months of pregnancy.”

Fissures within the GOP’s pro-life coalition became apparent following an Alabama court’s recent decision to ban in-vitro fertilization, a medical procedure supported by large swaths of the American public.

In response, Trump and pro-life Republicans like House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-GA) urged the Georgia legislature to amend state law to enshrine access, saying IVF is a critical tool for couples struggling with fertility but committed to raising children. Trump praised state leaders for moving quickly, but it put him at odds with more hardline pro-life conservatives who argued that any fertilized embryo should be given personhood status. IVF procedures typically require the disposal of less virile embryos in order to select an ideal one for surrogacy.