Pro-abortion Arizona Republicans joined with Democrats to repeal the state’s strong pro-life protections.

Several pro-abortion Republicans took up GOP Senate candidate Kari Lake’s demand to weaken the law, in place since 1864, that basically completely banned abortion in the state. The state’s Supreme Court upheld the law on April 9.

Democrat Gov. Katie Hobbs signed the repeal law last week.

Abortion lobby groups had challenged the validity of the 1864 law, which was also reiterated in 1901 and in 1913 upon the territory becoming a state, according to the court. Abortion supporters claimed a post-Roe law that prohibited abortions at 15 weeks was the new standard.

The Supreme Court of the state of Arizona ruled the older laws had never been repealed and subsequent laws did not replace those.

Following the court’s decision, Lake asked Republicans to work with the state’s pro-abortion governor to weaken the law. President Donald Trump also said the law should be “straightened out,” despite prior comments that he would trust each state to make its own laws.

“I wholeheartedly agree with President Trump – this is a very personal issue that should be determined by each individual state and her people,” Lake said in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter).

“I oppose today’s ruling and I am calling on [Democratic Governor] Katie Hobbs and the State Legislature to come up with an immediate common sense solution that Arizonans can support,” Lake said.

She then referenced a pro-abortion ballot initiative in Arizona and said, “Arizona voters will make the decision on the ballot come November.” She added that she opposes both federal funding for abortion and a federal ban on abortion.

Lake’s early April comments were predictive of other illogical comments Republicans would make.

State Sen. Shawnna Bolick, a Republican, said she voted to repeal the law protecting babies in order to protect babies. “I want to protect our state constitution from unlimited abortions,” Bolick said. “I am here to protect more babies. I vote aye,” she said, according to the Associated Press.

The state’s 15-week limit remains on the books.

Bolick appeared to be arguing that by allowing the killing of 95 to 97% of unborn babies whose lives are ended by abortion (according to prior abortion stats), she would be helping stop a 2024 ballot referendum to allow basically all abortions.

In reality, pro-abortion activists will continue to push for the referendum, and pro-life voters find themselves dismayed that a handful of Republicans betrayed them.

Lake, Trump, Bolick, and all other Republicans who pushed for weakened protections for preborn babies have played right into the hands of pro-abortion activists. Now the pro-life movement must continue to fight to protect all preborn babies from abortion and get rid of this misguided mentality among establishment Republicans.