Vulnerable Arizona Republican criticizes ruling upholding 160-year-old abortion ban

Rep. David Schweikert (R-Ariz.), the most vulnerable Republican in the state, came out against the Arizona Supreme Court’s ruling upholding one of the most strict abortion laws in the country on Tuesday.

Schweikert denounced the court’s decision, joining other Arizona Republicans in calling the move a step too far and pushing for the state legislature to pass new abortion rights legislation.

“I do not support today’s ruling from the AZ Supreme Court. This issue should be decided by Arizonans, not legislated from the bench,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “I encourage the state legislature to address this issue immediately.”

The 1864 law held up by the court bans abortion in all cases except to save the life of the mother. It makes Arizona one of the most strict states against abortion rights in the country.

Former Gov. Doug Ducey (R) and GOP Senate candidate Kari Lake already came out against the decision earlier Tuesday on similar grounds. 

Abortion rights will be one of the key issues in the 2024 election, with similar statewide abortion rights issues already taking center stage in Florida and other key states. Arizona is set to be one of the closest races in the House and for the presidential election.

Schweikert won the election but just 3,000 votes in his north Phoenix district in 2022. House Democrats have included him on a list of targets for the November election of the most vulnerable incumbents, emphasizing the importance of abortion rights.

There will also likely be a constitutional amendment over abortion rights on the Arizona ballot in November after a petition group announced they collected enough signatures to get on the ballot last week.

Conflicts over abortion rights have generally favored Democrats nationwide since the Roe v. Wade precedent was overturned by the Supreme Court in 2022, driving moderates toward the Democratic Party and boosting turnout among women and young people. The Biden campaign has leaned in on the issue, hoping it can take advantage of the divisive topic.

Biden also warned that the state decision could be a sign of things to come on the national level in a statement Tuesday.

“Millions of Arizonans will soon live under an even more extreme and dangerous abortion ban, which fails to protect women even when their health is at risk or in tragic cases of rape or incest,” Biden said.

“This cruel ban was first enacted in 1864 — more than 150 years ago, before Arizona was even a state and well before women had secured the right to vote,” the president continued. “This ruling is a result of the extreme agenda of Republican elected officials who are committed to ripping away women’s freedom.”

Vice President Harris is set to visit Arizona on Friday to speak about abortion rights, the White House announced in the wake of the court’s decision.