Today, following MAGA Arizona Republicans’ move to uphold the extreme 1864 abortion ban that Donald Trump made possible, DNC spokesperson Cameron Niven released the following statement:

“Trump and MAGA Republicans in Arizona have thrown the lives of hundreds of thousands of women into turmoil. There is no question that this is the cruel reality Trump and the GOP wanted when Trump killed Roe v. Wade, where women have no say in their own health care decisions with no exceptions for rape, incest, or health. What’s even more horrific is Trump and his MAGA allies want to take these extreme, archaic bans nationwide, and they have plans to do it with or without Congress. The stakes of this election are clear: The only way to safeguard reproductive freedom is by reelecting Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.”

Trump and MAGA Republicans own Arizona’s cruel 160-year-old abortion ban. 

New York Times: “A decision by Arizona’s highest court upholding an 1864 ban on nearly all abortions created chaos and confusion across the battleground state on Wednesday.”

“Democrats, who have criticized the decision resurrecting a 160-year-old abortion ban that has no exceptions for rape or incest, quickly tried to push bills through the Republican-controlled state Legislature that would repeal the ban — a move they said would protect women’s health and freedom and also force Republicans to take a formal vote to support the law or strike it down.

“But Republican leaders in the Senate removed one bill from the day’s agenda on Wednesday, legislative aides said. In the other chamber, a Republican House member who has done a political about-face and called for striking down the law made a motion to vote on a Democratic repeal bill that has sat stalled for months. 

“But Republican leaders quickly put the House into recess before any vote could be held.”

Axios: “GOP suffers desert meltdown on abortion”

“A day after former President Trump thought he’d tamped down the GOP’s exposure on abortion, it popped back up in the key 2024 battleground of Arizona.

“Why it matters: Trump ushered in the end of Roe vs. Wade and its national protection of abortion rights, and now his party is suffering a massive voter backlash.

“Abortion rights have yet to lose since the end of Roe when the decision has been up to voters instead of legislators or courts. The big picture: Despite the backlash, state-level Republicans have responded to the end of Roe by pushing extremely strict restrictions on abortion, including many that effectively outlaw the practice.

“The Arizona Supreme Court, controlled by GOP-appointed justices, upheld today a 1864 law that allowed abortion only to save the life of the mother.

“Between the lines: The state court ruling creates a stark contrast in November.

“Republicans have ushered in a near-total ban.

“Democrats are pushing a state constitutional amendment for the ballot to protect abortion rights up to 24 weeks.”

Copper Courier: “Arizona lawmakers with an extensive history of opposition to abortion-related healthcare spent Tuesday deriding the state’s newly reinstated, total abortion ban.”

“But those who passed the 15-week ban made clear the eventual goal was to ban abortion services entirely. Three months after Republicans passed the 15-week ban, Queen Creek Sen. Jake Hoffman prepared to introduce a new bill to ban abortion entirely.

“When conflict arose surrounding the bill—Republican House Majority Leader Ben Toma wouldn’t bring the bill to a vote over worries its introduction could signal that the 1864 ban was no longer legally sound—the two nearly got into a physical altercation to prove who was the most anti-abortion.

‘I’m more pro-life than you will ever be!’ Toma shouted on the House floor. ‘I’ve done more to help life than you ever will.’

“Toma, who later explained that all Republican legislators support a total ban but need to be more strategic about implementing one, has now toned down his support considerably, while still not taking a total ban off the table.”