Arizona Democratic Congressman Ruben Gallego has suggested that repealing the state’s 1864 near-total abortion ban would have minimal effect and emphasized the need to codify abortion rights directly into the Arizona constitution via a public referendum. This comes in response to a recent Arizona Supreme Court ruling permitting the enforcement of the archaic ban. Gallego, who is preparing for a Senate race against the Republican candidate Kari Lake, is actively campaigning to place this referendum on the November ballot to ensure abortion rights up to the 24th week of pregnancy, with exceptions for life-threatening situations.

Meanwhile, in Michigan, Governor Gretchen Whitmer has openly criticized the former President Donald Trump for his inconsistency regarding abortion rights. During an NBC’s “Meet The Press” appearance, Whitmer refuted Trump’s recent claim that states should have the authority to set their own abortion laws, arguing that it could lead to regressive outcomes in states like Michigan, Ohio, and Kentucky. This conversation ties into the broader national debate as the Democratic party plans to highlight reproductive rights in the upcoming 2024 elections.

The Arizona abortion ban, dating back to 1864, criminalized inducing miscarriages without exceptions for rape or incest. This law, reflective of a different era’s societal and medical standards, is part of the revived legal battles over abortion rights in the U.S. following the overturn of Roe v. Wade. Such laws, once dormant, are now influencing the current political and social landscape, particularly in key battleground states like Arizona.