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When Bill Richardson leaves the New Mexico governor’s mansion to become U.S. secretary of commerce, his Democratic lieutenant governor, Diane Denish, will take over where he left off. Although the two certainly have different governing styles, their policy views do not diverge wildly.

This is not the case in Arizona, where there is no lieutenant governor position, and Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano’s departure to head the Department of Homeland Security will result in the ascension of the Republican secretary of state, Jan Brewer. It could also result in serious restrictions on abortions, sending some seekers across the border to New Mexico for help.

With a strongly anti-abortion state Legislature, Napolitano had been the last line of defense for pro-choice supporters in Arizona. Since taking office, she vetoed at least nine bills that would have restricted abortion, barred the use of state funds and made the procedure less accessible for women and teens, the Arizona Star reports. As one local advocate told the paper:

“We are very concerned about what’s going to happen by losing the governor’s veto,” said Pam Grissom, chairwoman of the board for a Tucson-based abortion-rights group known as Arizona List…
Brewer has declined to comment on her potential ascendancy to the Governor’s Office. But political observers believe Napolitano’s departure could mean approval of tougher medical standards for facilities that perform abortion, stricter requirements for minors seeking an abortion and additional limitations on late-term abortion.
If Napolitano is confirmed (as is expected), Brewer takes office and abortion is restricted in Arizona, could it force women to travel to New Mexico for reproductive health services?

“Within limits, yes,” says Johnny Wilson, senior vice president for external affairs at Planned Parenthood of New Mexico.

“The costs and hassle that people experience in one state can be offset by going to another state, typically if they’re close to the border and if they have contacts in the other state,” Wilson says.

But the distance between Arizona and service providers in New Mexico, who are mostly in Albuquerque, is so great that many probably would not be able to make the trip. Beyond that, it would be very difficult for many women and teens to ask for help getting to New Mexico for service.

“It’s easy to say, ‘Hey, I need to go get a CAT scan because I have a growth on my liver. Can you help me get there?’ You can ask your friends and relatives pretty easily. But ‘Hey, I need an abortion. Can you take me [to New Mexico]?’ or “Hey, I need to get a new IUD, can you help me?” That’s a lot harder to do,” Wilson says.