WASHINGTON, D.C. – About one-fifth of the states had abortion on the ballot. While abortion rights measures passed in several states, including red states, it wasn’t a success everywhere.
On Election Day, voters in ten states were asked if they should expand abortion access or lift abortion bans. In seven of the states, including predominately Republican-led states like Missouri, the measures prevailed. In other states, like South Dakota, Florida and Nebraska, restrictions or a full ban will remain in place.
When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, many states voted to enshrine abortion rights, including in Republican-led states like Ohio and Kansas. But this November’s election broke this ballot measure’s winning streak.
“We had seen particularly in Kansas some of these red states had passed pretty overwhelmingly some of these measures but remember that was when that was the key issue on the ballot,” Dr. Todd Belt, George Washington University Professor and Director of Political Management said. “There was so much other things to vote on this time around: senate races, some gubernatorial races and of course the presidential race and so people weren’t keyed into this one issue there was so much more.”
Political scientists said Democrats believed they could use the abortion issue to get out the vote and help with their party’s candidates in the election.
“It didn’t turn out that way,” Dr. Belt said. “In fact, the exit polls are showing that gap between men and women in terms of voting was no different this year than it has in years past meaning that this strategy didn’t work. The Democrats thought this was Republicans’ kryptonite and they still think they have some motivation for their young base so I think they’re still going to use it. I just think once they do all the soul searching after this election, they know not to put all their eggs in that basket.”
President-elect Donald Trump recently said he will leave abortion up to the states but abortion rights organizations are preparing for additional federal-level fights once he’s back in office. Dr. Belt believes the Democrats will continue campaigning on abortion and could try for additional measures in the midterm elections.
“It’s often said when you can’t get what you want at the federal level you go to the state level and try to do it,” Dr. Belt said.
