A progressive polling firm released data on Tuesday that claims Republicans are divided over the decision by the Arizona Supreme Court to enact a 19th-century law that bans most abortions, including in the event of rape or incest.
Pollsters at Data for Progress asked likely U.S. voters whether they approve of the state Supreme Court’s decision to ban all abortions “with exceptions only for when the life of the mother is in danger” and with “no exceptions for pregnancy resulting from rape or incest.”
They claim that 25 percent of Republicans across the country strongly approve of the Arizona Supreme Court decision, and 46 percent of Republicans were at least somewhat supportive.
By contrast, the pollsters found 23 percent of Republicans strongly disapprove of the abortion ruling, and 49 percent of Republicans expressed at least some level of disapproval.
Despite significant coverage for Arizona’s abortion ruling, the pollsters also found that 25 percent of respondents had “seen, heard, or read” nothing about the decision. Forty-eight percent reported “[a] little” and just 28 percent said they were fully aware of the law.
The pollsters surveyed 1,207 likely voters between April 11 and 12 and reported a 3 percent margin of error.
Data for Progress’ polling comes as Arizona Democrats are conflicted about the next steps following the decision, with Governor Katie Hobbs calling on the Arizona Legislature to immediately repeal the law and Representative Ruben Gallego (D-AZ-03) instead urging voters to participate in a possible abortion referendum in November.
Gallego is running for the U.S. Senate seat, which is being vacated by Senator Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), and will likely face Kari Lake in November.
Lake and former President Donald Trump have both called on Hobbs and Arizona lawmakers to create a commonsense abortion law that contains exceptions for rape and incest.
Following her announcement, Lake also released a video statement explaining her view on the issue and pledging not to support federal funding for abortions or an abortion ban.
Lake argued, “I’m not going to Washington, D.C. to impose federal restrictions on something that’s already been sent back to the states. I’m going to Washington, D.C. to secure our borders, strengthen our families, and help President Trump Make America Great Again.”
– – –
Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Georgia Star News, The Virginia Star, and the Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Abortion Protester” by Becker1999. CC BY 2.0.
