For Immediate Release
Tuesday, Oct. 4th, 2022

Contact: Josselyn Berry, Jberry@azdem.org

Is Kari Lake “Confused” Or Is She Running From Her Full Throated Support For The Deeply Unpopular 1901 Abortion Ban?  

PHOENIX–A week after doubling down on her support for Arizona’s extreme 1901 ban on abortion, Lake is now trying to hide where she stands. Lake went on KTAR Tuesday where she claimed she was “confused” about the territorial abortion ban. The rest of Arizona knows all too well that this draconian territorial-era law is now the law of the land, and the judge reaffirmed that clearly. KTAR also reported Lake “didn’t answer directly when she was asked if she supported rape and incest exceptions.”

But luckily for Kari, we’re here to remind her of her consistent support for the extreme 1901 ban on abortion that bans nearly all abortions and would criminalize doctors and nurses. Lake knows exactly what the law is in Arizona because she has been one of its biggest cheerleaders, rooting for this exact law to take effect. But now she’s seeing how politically unpopular it is and is trying to backtrack. Lake knows how bad her position is but she can’t hide from her very clear record. As the Arizona Republic reported, “Lake has not budged from her staunch opposition to abortion,” despite a majority of Arizonans supporting access to abortion and it becoming a top issue in this election.

“Kari Lake has never wavered in her support for this 1901 law banning abortion before so why the sudden change?” said Josselyn Berry, spokesperson for the Arizona Democratic Party. “Lake is clearly running scared from her unpopular decision because she knows 90 percent of Arizonans support access to safe and legal abortion. Unfortunately for her, we have the receipts.”

Let’s Take a Look At Kari Lake’s Long Record on Abortion:

• After a pre-statehood law banning abortions and criminalizing doctors is again law, Kari Lake went on Fox News where she doubled down on her support for the abortion ban, saying “I’m pro-life. I’ve never backed away from that and never will.” Talking to AZ Family, Lake tried to feign confusion over which Arizona abortion ban was in effect.

• Lake responded to the SCOTUS decision overturning Roe by saying she supports the 1901 Arizona law and celebrated the 1901 ban as a “great law” during a forum in February and said she would support and enforce it during the Republican primary debate. Lake even knew the 1901 abortion ban well enough to memorize the statute number. In a June 24th interview with the Conservative Circus, Lake said, “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.”

• Lake has referred to people who seek abortion care as “executioners” and has repeatedly called abortion “murder,” framing women who seek abortion care as murderers, saying, “I believe that taking the life of an unborn child is murder.” She’s said “I am pro-life 100%. I’m against abortion,” opposing exceptions for rape and incest or the life of the woman. When asked if she supported exceptions for rape and incest, Lake said, “I don’t believe that any child should be killed in a mother’s womb” and that “abortion is the ultimate sin.” In a June interview on Fox News and in the GOP primary debate, Lake also said she supports outlawing abortion pills.