REMINDER: Kari Lake “Solidified” Support For 1864 Ban, Called For Enforcement by Sheriffs

“We don’t have that law, as much as many of us wish we did.”

Wednesday, May 1st, 2024

ARIZONA -–  Since Arizona’s Supreme Court upheld the 1864 territorial ban on abortion without exceptions for rape or incest, Kari Lake “solidified her support for Arizona’s total abortion ban and called on county sheriffs to enforce the law”, “[expressed] disappointment” that the ban isn’t being enforced, and “[downplayed] 1864 abortion law, [said] Arizonans can travel ‘3 hours’ for procedure.”

Here’s what Kari Lake has said since the ban was upheld:

  • April 13, 2024: “And I think there’s a lot of people who want to say, ‘Oh, that law is on the books, and we have that law.’ No, we don’t have that law. She’s not enforcing the law, so we don’t have that law. The only people who can enforce that law are sheriffs, and we need to start asking if the sheriffs are going to enforce that. I don’t think they are.”
  • April 16, 2024: Arizona Republic reported Lake said, “Everyone’s fighting about a law that’s not even going to be enforced here in Arizona.”… “Even if we have a restrictive law here,” Lake continued, “you can go three hours that way, three hours that way, and you’re going to be able to have an abortion.”
  • April 20, 2024: “And this law passed. The Arizona Supreme Court said this is the law of Arizona. But unfortunately, the people running our state have said we’re not going to enforce it. So it’s really political theater, we don’t have that law as much as many of us wish we did.”

Before the 1864 ban was upheld, Lake said she was “incredibly thrilled” about it, calling it a “great law.” Here’s what she said:

  • February 5, 2022: “Obviously, I think Roe v. Wade should be overturned, and I think the Supreme Court, I have a good feeling that they’re going to do the right thing this time and again. I’ll echo what Steve just said. We have a great law on the books right now. If that happens, we will be a state where we will not be taking the lives of our unborn anymore.” 
  • June 24, 2022: “I’m incredibly thrilled that we are going to have a great law that’s already on the books, I believe it’s ARS 13-3603. So it will prohibit abortion in Arizona except to save the life of a mother. And I think we’re going to be setting the, paving the way and setting course for other states to follow.”
  • Jun 29, 2022: In response to a question about whether she supported Arizona’s territorial abortion ban, Lake said “I believe life begins at conception,” after having stated “I think the older law is going to go into effect.”
  • October, 20, 2022: In response to the question “Abortion is effectively banned in the state right now […] Is that something you support?”, Lake responded, “I support saving as many lives as possible.” 
  • October 23, 2022: When Lake was asked, “​​Do you favor one of those two over the other, the territorial law or the 15 weeks ban?” Kari Lake said, “I favor a law that will save as many babies as possible …” 

Watch what Arizonans are seeing about Lake’s calls to enforce the 1864 ban on abortion:

  • CNN: Natasha Chen: “But this is what she said to the Idaho Dispatch earlier this week.” Kari Lake: “The Arizona Supreme Court said this is the law of Arizona, but unfortunately, the people running our state have said we’re not going to enforce it. So it’s really political theater, we don’t have that law as much as many of us wish we did.”
  • Yuma ABC 5: “Republican Senate candidate Kari Lake says she is upset about Arizona’s century-old abortion ban not being enforced.”
  • KTVK: “In an apparent shift in perspective, Republican Senate candidate Kari Lake says she’s upset the century-old abortion ban is not being enforced. After the court’s ruling, she said it was “out of line,” adding that she supports exceptions for cases of rape and incest. Back in 2022, when Lake was running for Governor, she praised the law and now she’s apparently supporting it once again. So in a recent interview with the Idaho Dispatch, Lake said, ‘the Arizona Supreme Court said, this is the law of Arizona. but unfortunately, the people running our state have said that we are not going to enforce it’. She went on to say, ‘we don’t have that law as much as many of us wish we did.’”

Read more about Lake’s support for the enforcement of the 1864 ban on abortion without exceptions for rape or incest:

  • KJZZ: Lake: It’s ‘unfortunate’ AZ officials won’t enforce the state’s near-total abortion ban
  • CNN: Kari Lake bemoans fact that Arizona’s 1864 abortion ban is not being enforced, in another apparent shift
  • NewsMax: Kari Lake Flips, Now Favors Arizona Abortion Ban
  • Jezebel: Kari Lake Flip-Flops—Again!—on Civil War-Era Abortion Ban
  • RawStory: Kari Lake flips yet again as she hits opponents of Civil War era abortion law
  • Talking Points Memo: “‘We don’t have that law, as much as many of us wish we did,’ Lake continued. It’s quite a clear statement, and, seemingly, a stark reversal.” 
  • KYMA/KECY: “Republican Senate candidate Kari Lake says she is upset her state’s century-old abortion ban is not being enforced.”
  • NBC News: Kari Lake says ‘unfortunately’ Arizona isn’t enforcing 1864 abortion ban, flipping again
  • Copper Courier: Kari Lake calls on Arizona county sheriffs to make arrests over 1864 abortion ban
  • Rolling Stone: Kari Lake Wants Arizona Sheriffs to Enforce 1864 Abortion Ban
  • The Hill: Kari Lake flips on Arizona abortion ban, says ‘unfortunately’ it’s not being enforced
  • Arizona Republic: Kari Lake downplays 1864 abortion law, says Arizonans can travel ‘3 hours’ for procedure

Join our Campaign

Every donation helps get us closer to re-electing Joe Biden, holding the Senate, retaking the House, and flipping both chambers of our state legislature.
View the Final and Approved 2024 DNC Delegate Selection Plan