Main Edition
US
FR
November 6, 2024 - 3:00am
On Tuesday evening, Florida became the first state to reject a ballot measure expanding abortion access since Roe v. Wade was overturned, the latest sign of the state’s Rightward drift.
The measure, which would have made abortion legal in the state through at least the point of viability, generally determined to fall at around six months’ gestation, garnered 57% of the vote, falling short of the required 60% and virtually tying with Donald Trump’s level of support in the state.
In other direct votes on abortion, red states have so far uniformly voted in favour of legal abortion, including Ohio, Kansas and Kentucky. Florida’s measure required a higher threshold of support than these states, but its failure — and the success of Republicans up and down the state’s ballot — undermined the expectation that abortion would serve as a wedge issue to weaken Republicans.
Southeastern states had some of the strictest abortion laws allowed under Roe v. Wade prior to 2022, while Florida took a more lax approach, making the state a haven for late-term abortions. But in 2022, Florida passed a 15-week limit, followed by the current 6-week limit, with exceptions in place for rape, incest, domestic violence and other contingencies. With one of the strictest abortion laws in the US now on the books, enthusiasm for expanded abortion legality in the state is lower than might be expected, especially considering its long history as a purple state.
Florida voters also rejected a measure legalising recreational marijuana, bucking the trend of red states passing such measures in recent elections, and Donald Trump increased his margin of victory in the state compared to the previous two elections. Republican Sen. Rick Scott also increased his margin of victory, and the heavily Hispanic Miami-Dade county swung for Trump.
The results show an intensification of a Rightward drift that began in 2020. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis won his first gubernatorial election by only 0.4 percentage points in 2018, compared to his blowout 19.4-point win in 2022, months after Roe v. Wade was overturned. And this election year, pollsters are no longer treating Florida as a swing state.
Join the discussion
Join like minded readers that support our journalism by becoming a paid subscriber
To join the discussion in the comments, become a paid subscriber.
Join like minded readers that support our journalism, read unlimited articles and enjoy other subscriber-only benefits.
SubscribeHmm. The abortion measure failed, but still got 57% of the vote. That says something, doesn’t it? Abortion rights are popular in the first trimester. Even Donald Trump, who voted against the measure, would have voted for it if the limit had been more like 12 weeks of pregnancy instead of 24.
I must admit it does seem gerrymandered somewhat. Was the potential limit on abortion in the question set so late in order to worry the more moderate voters? Would it have cleared the 60% hurdle if the limit was set to the first trimester for instance, which seems to be the middle ground most Americans are happy with?
Losing by 57-43 is now considered a victory for conservatives? This is your drift to the right? LOL!
If it wasn’t for voter suppression and the ludicrous electoral college perverting the will of the American people in Trump’s favour this presidential election wouldn’t even be close.
The fact that you’re still here makes me question the integrity of Unherd, I’m pretty sure you’ve been flagged numerous times. But I guess every village needs its idiot.
In the US idiom, “CS” stands for the poultry version of “BS”. Champagne Socialist, or “CS” as he is known to his many fans, shows the usefulness of the idiom quite well.
This wasn’t funny the first time you said it. Certainly isn’t the second time.
Be better.
Don’t be such a snowflake!