Voters in at least seven states restore reproductive rights

By: - November 6, 2024 3:51 pm

Voters headed to the polls across the United States Tuesday following record-breaking early voting to elect a president, determine the balance of power in Congress and consider abortion ballot measures in 10 states. (John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)

In the first presidential election since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the federal right to an abortion, former President Donald Trump, who touted during the campaign he 鈥渨as able to kill Roe v. Wade,鈥澛犅爄n the White House. Simultaneously, seven out of 10 states voted to restore or expand abortion rights, according to early election results.

National anti-abortion groups celebrated Trump鈥檚 victory over Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, who campaigned heavily on restoring reproductive rights. They also celebrated the defeat of abortion-rights amendments in聽,听听补苍诲听, and foreshadowed a full assault on reproductive freedom throughout the country.

鈥淣ow the work begins to dismantle the pro-abortion policies of the Biden-Harris administration,鈥 said Susan B Anthony Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser in a statement. 鈥淧resident Trump鈥檚 first-term pro-life accomplishments are the baseline for his second term. In the long term, GOP pro-life resolve must be strengthened and centered on the unalienable right to life for unborn children that exists under the 14th Amendment.鈥

Despite their losses, abortion-rights advocates said the ballot question victories signal widespread American support for abortion protections even in red states.

Most significantly,听聽voted to overturn a near-total abortion ban. Voters also聽, which will override the current 15-week ban. Voters agreed to expand reproductive-rights protections in聽,听,听,听听补苍诲听.

鈥淭his is an especially historic win for Missouri,鈥 said Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the national legal advocacy group Center for Reproductive Rights. 鈥淚n fact, the amendment goes even further, calling for 鈥榓 fundamental right to reproductive freedom, defined to include abortion and all matters relating to reproductive health care.鈥 By saying yes to this powerful language, voters have demanded the return of the essential human rights and freedoms they lost after Roe was overturned.鈥

But abortion-rights advocates suffered a major loss in Florida, which聽聽to clear a 60% supermajority threshold, more than any of the other state abortion initiatives. With 57% voting in favor to overturn a six-week abortion ban and enshrine protections, Florida was the first state to fail to secure abortion rights since Roe v. Wade was overturned two years ago.

Abortion-rights organizers who spearheaded and funded Florida鈥檚 Yes on 4 campaign said the result still shows majority approval for abortion rights among Floridians, and they vow to continue trying to restore abortion rights in the state that six months ago was an abortion-access haven for the Southeast region.

鈥淲e鈥檙e incredibly proud to have stood with doctors, patients, and advocates impacted by this ban,鈥 said Yes on 4 Florida campaign manager Lauren Brenzel in a statement. 鈥淭heir stories, along with the countless women who will continue to suffer under Florida鈥檚 cruel and extreme abortion ban, remind us that our fight is far from over.鈥

Attorney and anti-abortion activist Catherine Glenn Foster told States Newsroom she is celebrating the fact that Floridians blocked attempts to enshrine abortion in their state constitution. However, she acknowledged that state abortion bans have created real problems, including women dying of preventable pregnancy-related causes and being denied routine miscarriage care. She said states that ban abortion should increase social supports, something that largely hasn鈥檛 happened since states started banning abortion, and should implement a robust training system around treating health emergencies.

鈥淲e need to have a real reckoning,鈥 said Foster, who has previously worked for major anti-abortion groups like Americans United for Life and Alliance Defending Freedom. 鈥淲e鈥檝e created an environment where doctors are scared. They don鈥檛 know how to respond and how to treat, and that鈥檚 a big problem. We have to address that before we pass anything else.鈥

Abortion ballot initiative results聽

Since Roe v. Wade was overturned in June 2022, seven states 鈥斅,听,听,听,听,听听补苍诲听聽鈥 have approved reproductive-rights state constitutional amendments or rejected anti-abortion constitutional amendments. This year reproductive-rights coalitions put abortion on the ballot in 10 states. Arkansas had collected enough signatures to qualify for the ballot, but this summer the聽that Arkansans for Limited Government, the committee behind the initiative, did not submit the correct paperwork. 罢丑别听 group opposing abortion, marijuana and education measures in the state was led by a top adviser to Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders,听.

Arizona 鈥斅, to enshrine abortion rights until fetal viability 鈥斅

YES: 62%

NO: 38%

In this swing state, abortion is currently legal until 15 weeks鈥 gestation. Earlier this year, a few Republicans crossed party lines to repeal a聽聽the legislature had revived. This citizen-initiated amendment would also prevent any penalties for someone who helps a person get an abortion. And it would allow for exceptions later in pregnancy for the patient鈥檚 life or physical or mental health.

Colorado 鈥斅, to allow public insurance to cover abortions 鈥斅

YES: 62%

NO: 39%

罢丑别听聽amendment proposes to expand abortion access in a state that currently has no gestational limits but does have a 40-year-old public funding ban. The amendment also proposes to prevent government interference in pregnancy and allow public insurance to cover abortions.

Florida 鈥斅, to enshrine abortion rights until viability 鈥斅

YES: 57%

NO: 43%

罢丑颈蝉听聽amendment would have overturned a 6-week abortion ban that has聽. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis鈥 administration聽聽against the abortion-rights campaign that involved a state-sponsored misinformation campaign. Florida was the only state in this election to require a 60% supermajority for ballot measures.

Maryland 鈥斅, to protect reproductive autonomy 鈥斅

YES: 74%

NO: 26%

罢丑颈蝉听聽would enshrine an individual鈥檚 right to make 鈥渄ecisions to prevent, continue, or end鈥 a pregnancy. Maryland has become a major abortion-access haven for the country; it is legal here until fetal viability and after for reasons related to the health of the fetus or pregnant person.

Missouri 鈥 Amendment 3, to enshrine abortion rights until fetal viability 鈥斅

YES: 52%

NO: 48%

罢丑颈蝉听聽amendment would overturn a near-total abortion ban that only has exceptions to prevent the death of the pregnant person. The ban鈥檚 ambiguous language led at least one Missouri hospital system to stop providing emergency contraception to patients, a move that forced the聽聽that Plan B and contraception remain legal.

Montana 鈥斅, to enshrine abortion rights until fetal viability 鈥斅

YES: 57%

NO: 43%

罢丑颈蝉听聽amendment would guarantee protections in a state where abortion is currently legal but where Republican lawmakers have attempted to pass restrictions since Roe fell in 2022.

Nebraska 鈥斅, to ban abortion after the first trimester vs.聽, to enshrine the right to abortion until viability

Initiative 434聽听鈥斅

FOR: 55%

AGAINST: 45%

Initiative 439 鈥斅

FOR: 49%

AGAINST: 51%

Nebraska was the only state to have聽聽on the ballot.

Nevada 鈥斅, to enshrine abortion rights until fetal viability 鈥斅

YES: 63%

NO: 37%

In this swing state abortion is currently legal up to 24 weeks of pregnancy, but this citizen-initiated measure would enshrine abortion rights into law. The measure will need to be approved by voters again in 2026 to become law.

New York 鈥 Proposal 1, to bar discrimination based on pregnancy status 鈥斅

YES: 62%

NO: 38%

罢丑颈蝉听聽would guarantee abortion rights in a state where abortion is legal up to 24 weeks of pregnancy 鈥 later if a provider determines the procedure is necessary to save a patient鈥檚 life or health, or if the fetus is nonviable.

South Dakota 鈥斅, to allow abortion through the end of the first trimester 鈥斅

YES: 41%

NO: 59%

This citizen-initiated measure would have allowed regulation in the second trimester for maternal health reasons and allow lawmakers in the third trimester unless the procedure is necessary to save the life or health of a pregnant patient.

Races where abortion took center stage聽聽

Minnesota Congressional District 3

Democrat Dr. Kelly Morrison: 59%

Republican Tad Jude: 41%

Minnesota State Sen., DFL-Deephaven, won the Minnesota 3rd Congressional District race to replace Democratic U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips in a seat that before 2018 had for decades gone to Republicans,听聽reported. Morrison is a practicing OB-GYN who supports abortion rights. Currently, the. Her Republican opponent, Tad Jude, has聽and supported the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

A special election in Minnesota will determine who takes over Morrison鈥檚 state Senate seat, whose term ends in 2026.

Wisconsin Congressional District 8

Republican Tony Wied: 57%

Democrat Dr. Kristin Lyerly: 43%

Of the close races in the swing state of Wisconsin, the 8th Congressional District was the least likely to flip from Republican control. But Dr. Kristin Lyerly launched a fierce campaign emphasizing a commitment to restoring reproductive health access to Americans, something she is uniquely positioned to advocate for as a. Lyerly is also one of the plaintiffs in a lawsuit that successfully blocked an 1849 Wisconsin feticide law that was temporarily enforced as a state abortion ban. Her campaign attracted national campaign cash and support. Her opponent, Republican Tony Wied, a former gas station owner,.

Tennessee House District 75

Republican Jeff Burkhart: 55 %

Democrat Allie Phillips: 45 %

Incumbent Republican Rep. Jeff Burkhart defeated former day care operator and political newcomer Allie Phillips, who largely聽. The 29-year-old drew national attention after speaking out about being denied a necessary abortion in Tennessee, where abortion is banned, when her desired pregnancy became nonviable and dangerous at 19 weeks. She ultimately traveled out of state to obtain the abortion. Phillips joined a legal challenge to the state鈥檚 strict abortion law. She pledged聽to immediately push for a policy that would carve out exceptions for fetal anomalies to Tennessee鈥檚 abortion ban, which she鈥檚 named 鈥淢iley鈥檚 Law鈥 after the baby she and her husband lost.

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Sofia Resnick
Sofia Resnick

Sofia Resnick is a national reproductive rights reporter for States Newsroom, based in Washington, D.C. She has reported on reproductive-health politics and justice issues for more than a decade.

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