GOP Primary Debate Underscores Gubernatorial Candidates’ Rigid, Harmful Views on Reproductive Freedom, Women’s Rights

PHOENIX – Secretary of State and gubernatorial candidate Katie Hobbs reiterated her stance as a fierce advocate for women’s reproductive rights in light of comments made during Wednesday’s debate between Republican gubernatorial candidates.

“I am the only candidate for governor with a plan that will protect a woman’s right to a safe and legal abortion in a post-Roe world,” Hobbs said. “As governor, voters can count on me to use every tool at my disposal – including my veto pen – to stop out-of-touch laws from going into effect.”

Kari Lake and her trailing opponent Karrin Taylor Robson took to the stage Wednesday evening alongside other Republicans running for Arizona’s governorship. Prior to the debate, Lake and Robson have shared uncompromising views on abortion bans even in extreme cases like rape and incest.

Lake:

• Opposing any exceptions to abortion, Lake said, “I’ve never heard anybody make a good case for killing a baby. And so therefore I am pro-life 100%. I’m against abortion.” [Timestamp 24:30]

• Voicing support for Arizona’s 1901 pre-Roe ban which outlaws abortion even in cases of rape and incest and requires prison time for doctors, Lake said in February, “We have a great law on the books right now.” [Timestamp 1:40]

• In support of Texas’ bounty hunter-style abortion ban which does not provide for an exception for rape or incest, Lake said, “I call on the Arizona legislature to put a carbon copy of Texas S.B. 8 on the Governor’s desk. If my predecessor refuses to sign it, I will do so in a heartbeat.”

• Suggesting women who have an abortion may go to hell, Lake said, “I believe that abortion is the ultimate sin” and “that’s my personal belief.”

Robson:

• Last week, in response to a question from KTAR’s Barry Markson about whether there should be exceptions in the case of a 14-year-old girl becoming pregnant after being raped by her stepfather, Robson failed to say exceptions should exist in those instances with Robson downplaying rape: “I believe life begins at conception and, quite frankly, the instance of pregnancies occurring in violent situations are extremely rare. In fact, it’s estimated about less than 2% of those situations do a pregnancy occur.”

• In support of Texas’ bounty hunter-style abortion ban which does not provide for an exception for rape or incest, Robson said, it was “a huge step forward in protecting women and children from the horrors of abortion”

• At the Future of Arizona candidate forum, Robson said that ​​under her administration, Arizona “will continue to be one of the most pro-life states in the nation.” Already, others are working to continue to roll the clock back with efforts to ban contraception and ban mail order Plan B pills.