ICYMI: Kari Lake Still Silent as Katie Hobbs and Kris Mayes Condemn Total Ban on Abortion

Hobbs Promises to Call a Special Session on Day One to Repeal Draconian Law 

PHOENIX — Last Saturday, Democratic nominee for governor Katie Hobbs and Democratic attorney general nominee Kris Mayes held a press conference with Dr. Baharak Tabarsi, a Phoenix family physician, to condemn the Pima County Superior Court’s decision to lift the injunction on the territorial-era total abortion ban with no exceptions for rape or incest.

At the press conference, Hobbs announced that, as governor, she will call a special session of the legislature on Day One to repeal this draconian ban. Unsurprisingly, Kari Lake still remains silent on the court’s decision and continues to avoid Arizonans’ questions. But Lake can’t hide from her full throated support of this cruel law.

This failure to take a stand for Arizonans’ reproductive freedoms is to be expected from Lake, who recently called this territorial-era ban a “great law,” making it clear she is in favor of criminalizing abortion providers and will force cops to go after medical professionals. She has also referred to women seeking abortions as “ghouls,” “liars,” “murderers,” and “executioners.” Make no mistake: if elected governor, Lake will seek to further take away Arizonans’ reproductive freedoms and put millions of peoples’ lives on the line.

Here’s a roundup of coverage from Saturday’s press conference:

Associated Press: GOP quiet as Arizona Democrats condemn abortion ruling

Republican candidates were silent a day after the ruling, which said the state can prosecute doctors and others who assist with an abortion unless it’s necessary to save the mother’s life. Kari Lake, the GOP candidate for governor, and Blake Masters, the Senate candidate, did not comment.

[…]

“We cannot let (Lake) hold public office and have the power to enact extreme anti-choice policies that she’s spent her entire campaign touting,” Hobbs said during a news conference outside the attorney general’s office. “As Arizona’s governor I will do everything in my power and use every tool at my disposal to restore abortion rights in Arizona.”

The New York Times: Arizona Judge Reinstates Strict Abortion Ban From 1864

Abortion rights supporters like Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, the Democratic candidate for governor, were critical of the decision. “Medical professionals will now be forced to think twice and call their lawyer before providing patients with oftentimes necessary, lifesaving care,” she said in a statement.

ABC News: Arizona Democrats warn ‘girls will die’ after judge upholds near-total abortion ban

“Under this ban, it’s Arizona women and families who will suffer the most,” said Secretary of State Katie Hobbs and Democratic nominee for governor. “And as a mother, I’m furious that my 20-year-old daughter will have fewer rights than I did 50 years ago. The overwhelming majority of Arizonans support access to safe and legal abortion. This decision is a direct affront to what we the people, the voters, Arizonans, want.”

Arizona’s Family: Katie Hobbs, Kris Mayes hold joint presser on Pima County abortion ban ruling

“Women’s rights are not a bargaining chip,” Hobbs said. “So what my focus is going to be on day one is repeal this 1901 law…The reality is that there’s no abortion access today.” Hobbs said that she believes it is a woman’s right to have access to safe, legal abortion.

The Arizona Republic: Democratic candidates Katie Hobbs, Kris Mayes condemn ‘extreme’ abortion ban

The law is “extreme” and a “territorial-era ban” that is “cruel and life-threatening,” Hobbs said, adding it makes no exceptions for rape or incest. “Additionally, this law means that abortion providers can be thrown into jail for providing reproductive care.” […] “On day one, I will call a special session of the state Legislature to overturn this draconian law,” Hobbs said.

12 News: Candidates Talk About Abortion Issue

“The reality is that there’s no abortion access today. […] I am not going to use women’s rights as a bargaining chip, and we deserve the health care that is our right. And access to safe and legal abortion — period.”

Axios Phoenix: The future of abortion in Arizona under pre-statehood ban

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Katie Hobbs and attorney general candidate Kris Mayes held a press conference Saturday morning saying they’d do everything in their power to protect women’s abortion rights.

“We cannot let (Hobbs’ opponent Kari Lake) hold public office and have the power to enact extreme anti-choice policies that she’s spent her entire campaign touting,” Hobbs said.

Politico Pulse: GOP: Abortion? Let’s change the subject.

The move sparked outrage from Democrats, while Republicans were mostly silent. “I’m mourning today’s decision,” Katie Hobbs, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee for the state’s open seat, said in a statement. “We now must turn our anger into motivation to win in November and restore our fundamental rights.”