Stacey BarchengerArizona Republic
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Corrections & Clarifications: A previous version of this article should have made clear that the Arizona Abortion Access Act would allow abortions up to viability, which is about 23 or 24 weeks of pregnancy and determined by a medical provider.
As the Arizona Secretary of State's Office kicks off a series of town halls to educate voters about initiatives on the ballot this year, one high-profile perspective will be missing.
The campaign behind the Arizona Abortion Access Act has declined to participate in the events, which are planned for three cities and begin Saturday.
The public events are required to be held under Arizona law, but participation is optional. That Arizona for Abortion Access would decline to attend has opened up a line of attack from opposition groups, which raised the issue in a Friday news conference.
"Why? Why won’t they debate us?" asked Jill Norgaard of Arizona Right to Life, an anti-abortion group. “I have my theory, and it's that they don’t want to tell the truth. They don’t want to tell the truth about Proposition 139.”
The secretary of state offered both sides of the ballot measure a chance to speak for four minutes and take voters' questions, according to a copy of the emailed invitation.
Asked why supporters would not participate, a spokesperson for Arizona for Abortion Access cited other ongoing work and the support behind the amendment. Arizona for Abortion Access is the political committee backing the abortion rights amendment, which is on the ballot as Proposition 139.
"Our campaign is focusing our energy knocking doors, holding community events, and educating millions of voters about Prop 139," said Dawn Penich. "That energy is how we collected a record 820,000 signatures for Prop. 139 and that's how we will end Arizona's abortion ban in November."
Why candidates and campaigns skip public forums
Skipping the events leaves the opposition groups to promote their views to voters, and to do so largely unchallenged. Still, those opponents face an uphill battle when it comes to resources to reach undecided voters.
Arizona for Abortion Access had an over $9 million cash advantage over the leading opposition campaign, It Goes Too Far, as of mid-July, according to the most recent campaign finance filings. The campaign's first advertisement on streaming services went live last week.
Recent polling suggests the amendment has overwhelming support and few voters who are undecided on the issue. A CNN poll of 682 registered Arizona voters conducted in August showed 62% were in favor of the amendment. In a Fox News poll of over 1,000 registered Arizona voters in August, 73% said they were in favor.
The campaign for abortion rights has also skipped other public-facing forums.
Ted Simons, host of the Arizona Horizon show on Arizona PBS, said on air last week that the proponents had declined to appear for a scheduled debate. That left Cindy Dahlgren of It Goes Too Far to do a one-on-one interview with Simons.
A planned debate hosted by the Citizens Clean Elections Commission was set for last week but was canceled because proponents declined to participate. Clean Elections contacted Arizona for Abortion Access and another proponent group but both declined, Executive Director Thomas Collins said.
Debates can offer candidates and campaigns a chance to elevate their messages, but some also calculate whether there is a risk involved. Whether candidates participate, or not, has become something of a regular fixture in politics, from presidential races to notable Arizona contests.
Gov. Katie Hobbs did not debate while on the campaign trail in 2022.
In the primary, Hobbs' campaign cited her clear advantage over Democratic competitor Marco López, saying she was the "only candidate on either side of the aisle with a clear path through the primary." Hobbs beat Lopez 3-to-1.
Ahead of the general election, Hobbs did not debate GOP nominee Kari Lake, who campaigned on election conspiracies and who Hobbs charged would "make Arizona the subject of national ridicule." A GOP primary debate for governor in 2022 spawned viral moments that lived online well beyond the debate itself.
What would the Arizona Abortion Access Act do?
The Arizona Abortion Access Act, if approved by a majority of voters, would create a right to an abortion in the state constitution. Current law prohibits abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy unless there is a medical emergency.
The amendment would allow abortions up to the time when a fetus is viable outside the womb, which is determined by a health care provider and is typically about 23 or 24 weeks. Abortions could be provided later in pregnancy if a health care provider determines it is needed to protect the physical or mental health of the patient.
Opponents say the amendment would allow unregulated abortion in the state, and that would in turn pose a safety risk to women and girls who seek abortions. They say the current law is sufficient, and not a ban on abortion as proponents have said.
Dahlgren charged in the Friday news conference that proponents "disrespect voters when they lie about their proposition and they lie about Arizona law."
Arizona for Abortion Access said the amendment has drawn support from doctors, nurses, faith and community leaders and Arizonans from around the state because of its focus on individual autonomy.
"All of us are working together toput health care decisions where they belong: in the hands of patients with their doctors, not the government," Penich said.
Reach reporter Stacey Barchenger atstacey.barchenger@arizonarepublic.comor 480-416-5669.
