Kari Lake, in line with GOP memo, backs IVF services after Alabama ruling

Kari Lake joined three other Republican U.S. Senate candidates in competitive races who distanced themselves Friday from last week’s Alabama Supreme Court ruling that held frozen embryos are considered children under that state’s anti-abortion laws.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee urged GOP candidates on Friday to “express support for IVF,” which has “staggering” public support, according to an NRSC memo obtained by the New York Times.

The NRSC warned that the Alabama ruling “is fodder for Democrats hoping to manipulate the abortion issue for electoral gain.” It urged the candidates to express support for IVF, oppose restrictions on it and campaign on increasing access to IVF services.

Later on Friday, former President Donald Trump said he would “strongly support the availability of IVF” as well, effectively giving political cover to all Republicans wanting it on the issue.

In a social media post Friday morning, Lake noted that, “One in six Americans struggle with fertility issues.

“In the Senate, I will advocate for increased access to fertility treatment for women struggling to get pregnant. (In vitro fertilization) is extremely important for helping countless families experience the joy of parenthood. I oppose restrictions.”

The accommodating message on IVF comes as Republicans nationally and Lake specifically have sought to neutralize abortion rights as a political issue since the U.S. Supreme Court erased federal protections in 2022.

Voters in Republican-leaning states such as Kansas and Ohio have opposed efforts to further whittle away abortion rights and the issue played an outsized role in the 2022 midterms that was helpful to Democrats and harder for Republicans.

Lake is running for the Senate seat held by Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz. Sinema has not said whether she will seek another term.

Sinema has compiled a voting record of strong support for abortion rights. So has U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., the only prominent member of his party challenging for the seat.

Pinal County Mark Lamb is vying for the GOP nomination and opposes abortion rights.

During her gubernatorial run that year, Lake voiced strong support for Arizona’s Civil War-era law that criminalized the procedure for doctors.

Lake said then that she was “incredibly thrilled” about Arizona following its territorial-era law that “will prohibit abortion in Arizona except to save the life of a mother.”

During her Senate run, Lake has said she supports a patchwork of state-level laws like Arizona’s ban on abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy and would not vote for a broader federal abortion ban.

“I support what the people of Arizona support. At the end of the day, we’re going to have 50 different laws,” she said earlier this week during an interview with KTAR (92.3 FM). “I don’t believe in a federal ban. … I will not vote for that. I believe we worked hard to get it to the state level.”

Gallego’s campaign sought to tie Lake’s IVF comments to her views on abortion.

“Kari Lake will say anything to get elected, but her actions are clear: She supports banning abortion without exceptions for rape or incest, and will ban medication abortion. Arizonans won’t be fooled by her attempts to erase her record," Hannah Goss, a Gallego campaign spokesperson, said.

On Friday, four Republican Senate contenders across the country sent out social media messages seeking to push back on the IVF ruling.

Pennsylvania’s Dave McCormick first posted his support for IVF.

“IVF is a ray of hope for millions of Americans seeking the blessing of children. I oppose any effort to restrict it.”

Three hours later, Lake, Ohio’s Bernie Moreno and Montana’s Tim Sheehy posted similar messages supporting IVF within minutes of each other.

Moreno said IVF is consistent with his opposition to abortion rights.

“My goal is to promote a culture of life. IVF is a vital tool for families that struggle with infertility. We have a crisis in this country of people not having enough kids at replacement levels. I’m in favor of anything that promotes people having more babies & strong families.”

Sheehy had this to say: "We want to find more ways to bring beautiful babies into this world, not less. IVF is a path for families to grow and thrive. I will fight against efforts to restrict it."

Alabama’s highest court pushed IVF into the fore with an 8-1 ruling in a pair of wrongful death cases brought by couples whose frozen embryos were destroyed in an accident at a fertility clinic.

The all-Republican court relied on the state’s constitution protecting the “rights of unborn children” and legal examples involving fetuses killed during pregnancy being subject to wrongful death claims.

In a concurring opinion, the chief justice drew on biblical scripture to decide the case. He noted that “human life cannot be wrongfully destroyed without incurring the wrath of a holy God.”

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Kari Lake news: Arizona Senate candidate expresses support for IVF