Abortion Access Is Pretty Bleak in Arizona, but the Governor’s Race Could Change All That
Even before June 24, 2022—you remember, the day the S*preme C*urt overturned Roe—the abortion-access situation in Arizona was pretty grim. The state had significant barriers to care, including mandatory counseling, parental consent laws for minors seeking an abortion, and ultrasound requirements. Of course, it got much scarier post-Roe, when the mere nine clinics across the state largely paused or limited abortion care because they didn’t have clear info on what services they could legally provide.
Unfortunately, things managed to get even worse just a few weeks ago, when a county judge ruled that an incredibly restrictive abortion law dating back to 1864 could be enforced in Arizona. The law would ban abortion except in cases where it’s necessary to save the life of the pregnant person, and—wait—here’s the truly horrifying part: It would mandate two to five years of prison time for abortion providers. Thankfully, just last week, a state court of appeals judge issued a ruling that stopped the harmful ban from being enforced until the full legal process can play out. The bottom line: Abortion is currently legal in Arizona up to 15 weeks gestation, but the situation continues to shift rapidly.
To make an already dire situation somehow murkier, there’s *also* a ton of confusion about another abortion law passed this year, which outlaws abortion after 15 weeks. Arizona’s attorney general has said that the two laws “can (and now do) coexist, allowing prosecutorial discretion as to which law will be charged when both are violated,” which feels like the equivalent of the ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ emoji…but, you know, in a life-or-death kind of way. Plenty of people, including leaders at Planned Parenthood of Arizona, are sounding the alarm on the fact that this confusion is going to cause real and serious harm to Arizona residents. Because clinics aren’t being given clear info on what services they can legally provide, many simply aren’t providing abortion care at all for fear of the consequences.
“For over 100 days, Arizonans have experienced pure chaos and confusion regarding state abortion laws,” says Brittany Fonteno, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona. “Arizona’s anti-abortion politicians have been the cruel force behind the medically unfounded abortion restrictions; they are continuing to put politics over patients and are blatantly out of step with the vast majority of Arizona voters, who support abortion rights and access.”
Someone needs to take control of this mess, right? Enter: Democrat Katie Hobbs and Republican Kari Lake, the two people vying for the governor’s seat in the midterm election this November. Hobbs says she will veto any legislation that restricts access to abortion and repeal the unjust law currently on the books. Lake, on the other hand, celebrated the overturning of Roe and has advocated for Arizona to enact a law identical to Texas’s incredibly restrictive SB 8, which bans abortion as early as 6 weeks. Scary stuff, right? Right, so let’s hold internet hands and get into it….
What first made you interested in politics?
Growing up in a middle-class family in Tempe, my parents and church community taught me the value of service and the dignity of work. I started out volunteering at my church as a kid, and when I got to college, I decided to become a social worker. My first job out of college was working with homeless youth in Phoenix, and later I helped run one of the largest domestic abuse shelters in the country.
As a social worker, I saw how poverty and a lack of access to reproductive health care had devastating effects on women and their families. I was frustrated with the lack of leadership, so I decided to run for office myself.
What’s a moment from your career thus far that you’re really proud of?
As a state legislator, I worked with members of both parties to expand health care to more than 500,000 Arizonans and found new ways to tackle the growing opioid epidemic here in Arizona. I also worked with a Republican governor to clear the state’s rape kit backlog and put sexual assault offenders in jail.
I’m also extremely proud of my work as secretary of state to modernize the office, fix broken systems, and battle misinformation—all of which helped make the 2020 election the most secure in our state’s history, with record-breaking turnout.
What experiences in your life have shaped your view on reproductive justice?
Access to reproductive health care is very personal to me. I, like many other women, have experienced miscarriages. During one of my pregnancies, the doctors needed to perform a procedure to remove the pregnancy tissue. It’s a procedure that’s commonly used for abortions. That medical procedure can be considered criminal under the 1901 ban now in effect in Arizona. Doctors are being forced to think twice before providing patients with oftentimes necessary, lifesaving care, and it’s already having devastating consequences for women.
Women and families, especially people of color, people living in rural areas, and low-income communities, are disproportionately harmed by policies like abortion bans. As governor, I promise to work to increase reproductive care access while also making sure every child has access to high-quality public education and that our state stays affordable for families, so every Arizonan has a fair shot at building a healthy life.
What, if any, abortion law in your state needs to change?
On September 23, 2022, the Pima County Superior Court allowed a draconian 1901 ban on abortion to take effect. This cruel law effectively outlaws abortion in Arizona with no exceptions for rape or incest and mandates jail time for abortion providers. That’s why as governor, on day one, I’ve committed to calling a special session of the state legislature to overturn this law.
I’ve also released a comprehensive plan to restore and expand reproductive health care in Arizona. My veto pen as governor would be a powerful tool—and our last resort—to stop additional out-of-touch laws from going into effect. I promise to veto any legislation that compromises our right to choose.
How have you felt about your party’s response to the overturning of Roe?
The majority of Arizonans support access to safe and legal abortion, and Arizonans don’t see this as a Democrat or a Republican issue. It’s about health care, women’s rights, and our freedoms. These extreme legislators who refuse to protect reproductive health care are wildly out of step with the vast majority of their constituents. Thankfully, we have candidates on the ballot who do support reproductive freedom, and we have pledged to do everything in our power to fight back against the measures that risk the health of millions of women and families. I am proud to be part of such a large coalition of pro-choice candidates in Arizona, and I am confident that we will work hard to restore and expand abortion care when elected this November.
Icon illustrations by John Francis.
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