Arizona Representative Ruben Gallego’s latest campaign ad is taking aim at his Senate race opponent, Republican Kari Lake, over her stance on abortion. This follows the Arizona Supreme Court’s recent decision to uphold a 19th-century law that criminalizes performing abortions, making it a felony offense.
Gallego’s advertisement highlights Lake’s previous support for this strict law, showcasing clips where Lake refers to abortion as “the ultimate sin” and praises the 1864 statute.
The context of the ad is set against a backdrop of shifting positions by Lake, who has recently aligned her views more closely with former President Donald Trump’s stance that abortion regulations should be determined by individual states rather than at the federal level.
Republican Kari Lake (Credits: CNN)
Despite her earlier hardline stance, Lake has since expressed that abortion laws should include exceptions for rape, incest, and threats to the mother’s health, stating, “A full ban on abortion is not where the people are.”
Gallego, seizing on the Supreme Court ruling and its implications for Arizona’s legislative landscape, has been vocal in his criticism, calling the decision “devastating” and accusing Lake of attempting to misrepresent her previous positions on abortion rights.
Kari Lake (Credits: ABC News)
The controversy over abortion rights is proving to be a pivotal issue in the race to succeed Senator Kyrsten Sinema, who is not seeking reelection.
Polls provided by The Hill/Decision Desk HQ currently show Gallego slightly ahead of Lake as both candidates vie for a critical seat that could influence the balance of power in the Senate.
The intensification of the abortion debate in Arizona mirrors a broader national trend, with advocates in several states, including Arizona, pushing to place amendments protecting abortion rights on the November ballot. These efforts are strategically aimed at mobilizing Democratic voters in the upcoming election cycle.
