(The Center Square) – Vice President Kamala Harris contacted Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs on Tuesday following the state Supreme Court ruling reinstituting an 1864 abortion ban law.
According to Hobbs, the pair discussed their disagreement with the 4-2 decision that could go into effect if the legislature does not repeal the law in time, which only includes an exception for an abortion if a mother’s life is at risk. The current abortion law is 15-weeks, and then only a mother’s life exception after that time frame.
“She called to just express her concerns about the ruling. We talked about how important it is to do everything we can to protect reproductive freedom in our state and across the country,” Hobbs said at a press availability on Thursday.
“And I told her how appreciative I am of the White House’s focus on this and what they’re doing to elevate and protect rights at the national level,” the Democrat added.
However, she said she will not be joining Harris tomorrow in Tucson, where she is scheduled to speak about abortion for a campaign event.
The governor’s relationship with the Biden administration has been mixed, as she’s been staunchly critical of how they’ve handled border policy, but supportive on other matters like abortion.
Harris also called Attorney General Kris Mayes, who said on Tuesday that her office is looking at different legal options going forward, including appealing the ruling.
“Grateful for [the vice president’s] call today and her offer to support Arizonans as we navigate the Arizona Supreme Court’s decision to reimpose a near-total abortion ban,” Mayes tweeted.
However, the scope of what the White House itself could do on abortion is extremely limited given the Dobbs decision overturning Roe sent the issue back to the states unless a federal law gets passed through Congress.
On the state level, there is an effort by Democrats and a few Republicans to get the 1864 law repealed. The Center Square reported on Wednesday that the attempts in both chambers of the legislature failed and they adjourned for a week.
House Speaker Ben Toma said that there needs to be more time for discussion, meaning that there could be movement on a repeal next week.
Since budget talks are underway, the legislature has moved to a once-weekly schedule. In terms of Hobbs calling a special session, she said Thursday that it’s an option but is not a guarantee a repeal effort would work and that she would like to see more votes from Republicans to repeal to be clear.
“I’m not gonna out anyone that we’re talking to, but we’re having conversations,” Hobbs said when a reporter asked if conversations between her office and Republican lawmakers are occurring.
