By Robin Shaw | Point of View
As a small business owner, a former Republican State Representative, and a former leader of the Arizona Federation of GOP Women, I have always championed conservative values.
This election year, I consider Kari Lake a threat to those values.
Kari Lake has fought to overturn the results of democratic elections. She has shown no capacity for leadership and no semblance of respect for the rule of law, which is essential to conservatism.
As a Republican, I denounce her in the strongest terms possible. Instead, I will support Ruben Gallego as Arizona’s next US Senator.
One issue in particular was pivotal in bringing me to this decision: the right to an abortion. Abortion is one of the most personal and difficult decisions a woman can make. It is a decision that has grave implications for a woman’s safety, finances, and future; it should be made between a woman, her family, her doctor, and her faith, not by controlling politicians like Kari Lake.
Kari’s abortion stance is profoundly at odds with the party I once knew and loved — a party that stood for freedom. Kari wants to take our freedom away. She called abortion the “ultimate sin.” She praised the archaic 1864 abortion ban, which mandates jail time for doctors who provide care to women who need it.
That kind of government overreach will not stand in Arizona, where we value personal liberty and respect the right of individuals to make their own choices. Her stances are directly contradictory to what Arizonans want, with an overwhelming majority of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents alike signaling support for reproductive rights.
Meanwhile, Congressman Ruben Gallego has consistently voted to protect abortion access, earning him the endorsements of leading reproductive rights organizations. He has worked tirelessly to protect our freedoms, not meddle in our personal lives. Ruben cares deeply about representing all Arizonans, not just those who share his party affiliation. That’s why he’s spent his campaign crossing the state and visiting some of Arizona’s reddest communities. He understands that leadership is about bringing people together, not dividing them up.
That’s why I’ve decided to cross party lines and stand with Ruben to be Arizona’s next senator. Throughout his career, he has sought common ground and worked tirelessly to protect the rights of all Arizonans. That kind of leadership is what Arizona needs from its next senator.
This election is about more than party loyalty. It’s about standing up for what’s right. I urge all of my fellow Republicans who value freedom and liberty to join me in supporting Ruben.
Your health decisions are yours and yours alone. Your vote is yours alone, and it deserves to be counted, not thrown out at the will of political extremists. Arizonans deserve a Senator who defends our rights, not one who strips them away. That senator will be Ruben Gallego, and I will happily cast my vote for him this November.
Editor’s Note: The Honorable Robin Shaw, a Republican, is a former elected member of the Arizona Legislature serving as Representative for Legislative District 26
