The repeal measure passed 16-14, with two Republicans – state Sens. Shawnna Bolick and TJ Shope – joining all 14 state Senate Democrats in voting to quash the pre-statehood law.
The Arizona Senate voted Wednesday to repeal an 1864 law that outlawed almost all abortions in the state – and made no exception for cases of rape or incest.
The repeal measure passed 16-14, with two Republicans – state Sens. Shawnna Bolick and TJ Shope – joining all 14 state Senate Democrats in voting to quash the pre-statehood law.
Wednesday’s vote came exactly one week after the Arizona House voted 32-28 to nix the long-dormant law, which the state Supreme Court had ordered officials to enforce last month in light of the Supreme Court’s June 2022 reversal of Roe v. Wade.
The bill now heads to the desk of Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, who is expected to sign it.
“After almost a month of Republicans blocking and prolonging Democrats attempts to pass legislation that would repeal Arizona’s total abortion ban that was upheld by the Arizona Supreme Court in early April, Senate Democrats forced the repeal to the governor’s desk,” Arizona state Senate Democrats said in a statement.
