Speaker Ben Toma walked off the floor of the Arizona House of Representatives, resolute — if stressed — after he cast the pivotal vote to again block an effort to repeal the state’s 1864 abortion ban.
He knew he was going against the wishes of top Republicans like former President Donald J. Trump, who had called on the Legislature to change the ban.
He worried about political blowback to Republicans in the coming elections.
But Mr. Toma saw himself as upholding moral principles far more foundational than current politics, the past president or even the ban itself.
Attempts to undercut it as “a Civil-War-era law” were “sort of ridiculous,” he said in an interview on Wednesday after the vote.
Persons:
Ben Toma, Donald J, Trump, Mr, Toma, ”, Rights
Locations:
Arizona