PHOENIX – A prominent Democratic lawmaker has declared that she will be stepping down from her role in the Arizona Legislature. State Senator Eva Burch, who represents Mesa, announced her decision to resign due to financial instability and challenges balancing her legislative duties with her career as a health care provider. This announcement comes just a few months into what would have been her second term. Burch referred to herself as “a casualty of legislative pay,” lamenting the financial difficulties associated with the position.
In her statement released on Wednesday, Burch expressed hope that future Arizona lawmakers might receive wages that reflect the cost of living. This, she believes, would allow more working-class individuals, who understand the everyday struggles of Arizonans, to represent their communities effectively. Her resignation is set to take effect on March 14.
Nearly a year ago, Burch made headlines for her candid speech on the Senate floor. She disclosed that her pregnancy was non-viable and she intended to undergo an abortion, highlighting the tangible impacts of state-imposed abortion restrictions. Drawing from her professional background as a nurse practitioner at a women’s health clinic, Burch critiqued Arizona’s restrictive abortion laws, arguing that they did not align with modern realities.
Her poignant address occurred shortly before the Arizona Supreme Court considered whether an abortion ban from the Civil War era could be enforced. Although the statute was repealed by the Legislature before enforcement commenced, it illuminated the ongoing struggle surrounding abortion rights in the state.
In response to these challenges, Arizona voters passed a constitutional amendment last November, securing abortion access up to the point of fetal viability, generally understood to be around 21 weeks. This move served as a significant step towards ensuring reproductive rights within the state.
