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Gone quiet · last update Dec 3, 2024 / Arizona

Arizona's 1864 abortion ban, from the court ruling reviving it to its repeal

Overview · reviewed October 28, 2026

A near-total abortion ban Arizona enacted in 1864 was revived briefly in 2022 and upheld by the state Supreme Court in April 2024.[1][2] The Legislature repealed it weeks later.[3] In November 2024, voters put a right to abortion in the state constitution.[4]

Read the timeline

Follow this story to see new developments when you return.

The Legislature repealed it weeks later.[3] In November 2024, voters put a right to abortion in the state constitution.[4]

Coverage over time

Share of tracked outlets · monthly average of weekly shares (UTC)

Mar 2022: average weekly share 14% (left 4%, center 7%, right 3%), from 2 of 2 weeksApr 2022: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMay 2022: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksJun 2022: average weekly share 4% (left 1%, center 2%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksJul 2022: average weekly share 5% (left 1%, center 2%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksAug 2022: average weekly share 1% (left under 1%, center 1%, right under 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksSep 2022: average weekly share 9% (left 4%, center 4%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksOct 2022: average weekly share 7% (left 3%, center 3%, right 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksNov 2022: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksDec 2022: average weekly share 5% (left 2%, center 2%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksJan 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksFeb 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksApr 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMay 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksJun 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJul 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksAug 2023: average weekly share 1% (left 1%, center under 1%, right under 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksSep 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksOct 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksNov 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksDec 2023: average weekly share 1% (left 1%, center under 1%, right under 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksJan 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksFeb 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksApr 2024: average weekly share 23% (left 9%, center 9%, right 5%), from 5 of 5 weeksMay 2024: average weekly share 4% (left 1%, center 2%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksJun 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJul 2024: average weekly share 3% (left 1%, center 1%, right under 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksAug 2024: average weekly share 7% (left 3%, center 3%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksSep 2024: average weekly share 2% (left under 1%, center 1%, right 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksOct 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksNov 2024: average weekly share 1% (left under 1%, center under 1%, right under 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksDec 2024: average weekly share 1% (left under 1%, center 1%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksJan 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksFeb 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksApr 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMay 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJun 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksJul 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksAug 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksSep 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksOct 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksNov 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksDec 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksJan 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksFeb 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksApr 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMay 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJun 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksJul 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksAug 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksSep 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksOct 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksNov 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 2 of 2 weeks, so far

LeftCenterRight

Each bar is the share of the outlets on our Left / Center / Right rating scale that we tracked publishing that week which carried reporting on this story, split by the outlets' ratings. Over more than two years each bar is a month: the average of that month's weekly shares, so the shape stays readable. The weekly table below keeps every week. We track more outlets now than in the archive, so a share keeps earlier and later weeks comparable. An outlet counts once a week however much it published, and outlets in one ownership or syndication group count as one on each side they appear on. A rating describes the outlet, not the report. A gap means no such reports were collected that week, not that nothing was reported anywhere. Weeks run Monday to Sunday in UTC, so a report published on a Sunday evening in US Eastern time counts in the next week. 8 more outlets off the scale (not rated, or outside the left-right graphs) also reported; they are not in this chart. See them.

Weekly counts, outlets and reports (30 weeks with coverage)
Outlets on the rating scale that carried this story each week, of the outlets tracked that week, newest first
Week of (UTC)LeftCenterRightOf trackedShareReceipts
Dec 2, 20241708 of 2284%
Nov 4, 202433410 of 2234%
Sep 16, 202433511 of 2095%
Sep 9, 202426412 of 2305%
Aug 19, 20244228 of 2094%
Aug 12, 20241825649 of 21723%
Jul 22, 202435210 of 2344%
Jul 1, 2024611118 of 2138%
May 20, 2024510621 of 2269%
May 13, 202458316 of 2167%
Apr 29, 202428301876 of 23732%
Apr 22, 202419261055 of 22325%
Apr 15, 20241615839 of 24716%
Apr 8, 2024403926105 of 26440%
Apr 1, 20244329 of 2643%
Dec 11, 20235218 of 2254%
Aug 7, 202365213 of 2595%
Dec 26, 20221210931 of 16319%
Oct 24, 202289320 of 18111%
Oct 10, 202256314 of 1868%
Oct 3, 20221417536 of 19119%
Sep 26, 2022109221 of 18711%
Sep 19, 20221622947 of 18426%
Aug 15, 202235311 of 1836%
Jul 11, 2022913628 of 18815%
Jul 4, 20222529 of 1945%
Jun 27, 202289320 of 19110%
Jun 20, 202236110 of 2045%
Mar 28, 2022513523 of 18512%
Mar 21, 20221013528 of 19215%

Latest coverage

The newest reporting in this story's record.

  1. Dec 2, 2024 · first reported · Headline from WFMZ Allentown

    Lawsuit seeks to undo 15-week abortion ban that conflicts with expanded access in Arizona

Background

The old ban returned after Roe v. Wade fell. In March 2022, Arizona enacted a ban on most abortions after 15 weeks.[5][6] After the fall of Roe that June, providers halted abortions as the state's attorney general said the pre-statehood ban could be enforced.[7][8] A federal judge blocked a state "personhood" law,[9] and in September a judge ruled that the state could enforce the near-total ban, halting all abortions.[1][10] An appeals court let abortions restart in October, and the state agreed not to enforce the ban until 2023.[11][12] In December, the appeals court ruled that doctors could not be charged under it.[13]

Read the full background (2 more paragraphs)

The Arizona Supreme Court took up the 1864 law in December 2023, and on April 9, 2024, it ruled that the state could enforce it.[14][2] The ruling upended the state's politics.[15] Donald Trump said it went too far, and Kari Lake, who had called the law "great" in 2022, now said it was "out of step."[16][17] After Republicans blocked an attempt to repeal it, the Legislature voted for repeal, with three House Republicans joining Democrats, and Gov. Katie Hobbs signed it.[18][19][3] California passed a law letting Arizona doctors perform abortions there,[20] and the ban was formally off the books in September.[21]

Abortion-rights advocates turned in around 800,000 signatures for a ballot measure,[22] and after court fights over its wording the Arizona Supreme Court let voters decide.[23][24] In November 2024, voters put a right to abortion in the state constitution.[4] A lawsuit then sought to undo the 15-week ban that conflicted with it.[25]

Supporting stories (25)
  1. Arizona judge: State can enforce near-total abortion ban
  2. Abortions in Arizona: State can enforce 1864 law, supreme court rules
  3. Arizona repealed its 1864 abortion ban. Democrats are still planning to use it against Trump
  4. Arizona voters guarantee the right to abortion in the state constitution
  5. Arizona bill that bans most abortions after 15 weeks heads to governor's desk
  6. Arizona governor signs bills limiting abortion, trans rights
  7. Arizona abortion providers halt procedures after Roe ruling
  8. Arizona attorney general: Pre-1901 abortion ban enforceable
  9. Federal judge blocks Arizona's 'personhood' abortion law
  10. Arizona judge won’t suspend ruling that halted all abortions
  11. Appeals court ruling allows Arizona abortions to restart
  12. Arizona agrees not to enforce total abortion ban until 2023
  13. Court: Abortion doctors can’t be charged under Arizona law
  14. Arizona Supreme Court reviews pre-state 1864 abortion ban which is still on the books
  15. A near-total ban on abortion has supercharged the political dynamics of Arizona, a key swing state
  16. Trump pushes Arizona lawmakers to "remedy" state abortion ruling that he says "went too far"
  17. Kari Lake denounces Arizona abortion ban that she once supported
  18. Arizona Republicans block another Democratic effort to repeal 1864 abortion ban
  19. Arizona state House passes bill to repeal 1864 abortion ban
  20. Arizona doctors can come to California to perform abortions under new law signed by Gov. Newsom
  21. Arizona's 1864 abortion ban is officially off the books
  22. Pro-choice advocates set to turn in around 800,000 signatures for Arizona abortion ballot measure
  23. Arizona judge rejects GOP wording for voters' abortion ballot initiative pamphlet
  24. Arizona Supreme Court clears way for voters to decide on constitutional right to abortion
  25. Lawsuit seeks to undo 15-week abortion ban that conflicts with expanded access in Arizona

The full record

Each date is when an update was first reported.

All 43 recorded updates

December 2024

  1. Lawsuit seeks to undo 15-week abortion ban that conflicts with expanded access in ArizonaHeadline from Local News 8 · 9 outlets

November 2024

  1. Arizona voters guarantee the right to abortion in the state constitutionHeadline from Washington Times · 10 outlets

September 2024

  1. With immigration and abortion on Arizona's ballot, Republicans are betting on momentumHeadline from MyNorthwest · 10 outlets
  2. Arizona's 1864 abortion ban is officially off the booksHeadline from Local News 8 · 12 outlets

August 2024

  1. Arizona Supreme Court clears way for voters to decide on constitutional right to abortionHeadline from Fox10 Phoenix · 8 outlets
  2. Ruling: Fetus can be referred to as 'unborn human being' in Arizona abortion measure voter pamphletHeadline from KOB 4 · 19 outlets
  3. Arizona and Missouri will join 5 other states with abortion on the ballot. Who are the others?Headline from The Boston Globe · 43 outlets

July 2024

  1. Arizona judge rejects GOP wording for voters' abortion ballot initiative pamphletHeadline from ABC 17 Mid-Missouri · 10 outlets
  2. Pro-choice advocates set to turn in around 800,000 signatures for Arizona abortion ballot measureHeadline from KVOA Tucson · 18 outlets

May 2024

  1. Arizona doctors can come to California to perform abortions under new law signed by Gov. NewsomHeadline from ABC 7 San Francisco · 22 outlets
  2. Arizona Supreme Court delays enforcement of 1864 abortion banHeadline from KTVZ Bend · 17 outlets

April 2024

  1. Arizona repealed its 1864 abortion ban. Democrats are still planning to use it against TrumpHeadline from Waco Tribune-Herald · 81 outlets
  2. Arizona state House passes bill to repeal 1864 abortion banHeadline from NBC Los Angeles · 48 outlets
  3. Kari Lake bemoans fact that Arizona’s 1864 abortion ban is not being enforced, in another apparent shiftHeadline from KVOA Tucson · 9 outlets
  4. Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to let Arizona doctors provide abortions in CaliforniaHeadline from Foxla · 20 outlets
  5. Arizona Republicans block another Democratic effort to repeal 1864 abortion banHeadline from ABC 7 San Francisco · 42 outlets
  6. Kamala Harris blames Trump for abortion bans during Arizona visitHeadline from CBS News · 11 outlets
  7. Trump pushes Arizona lawmakers to "remedy" state abortion ruling that he says "went too far"Headline from Waco Tribune-Herald · 33 outlets
  8. Kari Lake denounces Arizona abortion ban that she once supportedHeadline from The Guardian · 20 outlets
  9. Biden campaign launches Arizona ad blitz on heels of abortion rulingHeadline from NBC News · 5 outlets
  10. Abortions in Arizona: State can enforce 1864 law, supreme court rulesHeadline from FOX 4 Dallas · 69 outlets
  11. A near-total ban on abortion has supercharged the political dynamics of Arizona, a key swing stateHeadline from Winchester Star · 76 outlets
  12. Arizona Advocates Claim They Have Enough Signatures to Put Abortion Rights on the BallotHeadline from Latin Times · 9 outlets

December 2023

  1. Arizona Supreme Court reviews pre-state 1864 abortion ban which is still on the booksHeadline from Washington Times · 9 outlets

August 2023

  1. Abortion rights advocates in Arizona push for 2024 ballot initiativeHeadline from Fox10 Phoenix · 13 outlets

Coverage & sources

Read the reports, see how much was collected over time, or compare outlets by political leaning.

Coverage & sources →