Kari Lake argues Arizona abortion law should be enforced even if she does not support it

Arizona Republican Senate candidate Kari Lake said she was disappointed that a Civil War era abortion ban in the state is not being enforced, even though she does not believe the ban is in step with Arizona voters.

The Arizona Supreme Court upheld an 1864 near total abortion ban earlier this month that prohibits abortions in all circumstances except to save the life of the mother. It also includes a two-to-five-year prison sentence for abortion providers.

Lake initially supported the ban when she was running for governor in 2022, claiming it was a “great law," according to the Hill. But after the Supreme Court ruling, Lake claimed the order was “out of line” with Arizona voters, and supported adding exceptions for rape and incest. 

But in an interview with an Idaho publication on Saturday, she expressed disappointment with the state for not enforcing the 1864 ban. 

“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,'” Lake said in a video interview with the Idaho Dispatch. “So it's really just political theater, and we do not have that law, as much as many of us wish we did.”

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, and the state’s Attorney General Kris Mayes have said the state will not enforce the abortion ban, or the prison penalty for the abortion providers.

Lake has sought to repeal the law, which would revert the state’s abortion policies back to the 2022 law that banned abortion after 15 weeks. The 15-week ban does not include exceptions for rape or incest.

The earliest that the 1864 abortion ban could go into effect is June 8.