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Florida abortion measure fails
One of the biggest issues of this campaign season (other than the economy and illegal immigration) was abortion. In fact, 11 abortion-related measures – a record high in a single election year – were on the ballot.
Ten would provide for state constitutional rights to abortion: Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New York, Nevada and South Dakota. One, in Nebraska, would limit the timeframe for when an abortion would be performed.
In Florida, a state Trump won, voters rejected creating a constitutional right to abortion, a political win for Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, that will keep in place the state’s ban on most abortions after the first six weeks. The measure failed to clear the 60% threshold needed to pass.
It marked the first time abortion opponents won a ballot measure in any state since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, a decision that ended nationwide abortion protections.
The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops said it was “profoundly relieved at the defeat of Florida’s pro-abortion Amendment 4.”
“This is a positive outcome for Florida and all efforts to promote the flourishing of our state,” the bishops added.
Among other notable results, Maryland became the first state on Tuesday to adopt an abortion rights amendment – a legal change that won’t have an immediate difference to abortion access in a state that already allows it.
A New York measure — one that abortion rights groups argued will bolster access — also passed. The law did not contain the word “abortion.” Instead, it bans discrimination on the basis of “pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive healthcare and autonomy.”
While abortion motivated many women to vote, creating a gender gap, Trump won nonetheless thanks to what many called the “bro vote” — a coalition of men across all racial groups — to put him over the top.