By Sarah Neely
President Donald J.Trump pulled out a stunning win last night, sweeping many battleground states and even gaining the popular vote. Trump is the first Republican candidate in two decades to win both the popular vote and electoral college vote – and he won both by wide margins.
“Operation Rescue is thrilled to see President Trump, the presidential candidate we have endorsed in three separate elections, returning to the Oval Office,” said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. “This means we are turning the page on the most pro-abortion administration our nation has ever seen, and writing a new, exciting chapter with a President who has always come alongside the pro-life movement with a willingness to explore creative approaches to protect innocent life.”
Republicans also took back the Senate, gaining 52 seats. However, voters will have to wait on results for the House of Representatives, as over 50 races still have yet to be called.
“More than anything, last night was an incredible win for the babies,” added Newman. “As a movement, we need to take this momentum and do everything we can to save more lives.”
Of course, the presidential election was not the only major pro-life race on the ballot yesterday. Ten states also voted on abortion-related constitutional amendments. Of those ten, only Florida, South Dakota and Nebraska managed to stop extreme abortion agendas in their state. Missouri, however, an abortion-free state, saw a bitter defeat for pro-lifers and unborn babies.
PRO-LIFE VICTORIES
Florida citizens stopped the pro-abortion amendment, though just barely. The “Amendment to Limit Government Interference with Abortion” would have enshrined a right to abortion up to “viability” in the state constitution. However, it needed 60% to pass, and the amendment only received 57% of the vote. Florida’s six-week limit on abortion remains in place, saving countless preborn lives and hindering previously lucrative abortion businesses from expanding.
South Dakota citizens defeated Amendment G, a state ballot initiative that would have enshrined the right to abortion in the first trimester. The state would have been allowed to create laws for abortion in the second trimester and completely prohibit abortion in the third, but only with broad exceptions. Efforts of legislators to successfully enact pro-life protections also would have been sharply restricted.
However, the people of the abortion-free state of South Dakota rejected the pro-abortion amendment with a vote of 60% to 40% – a huge win for life! The state’s current protections for unborn babies through all nine months of pregnancy remain in place unhindered.
Nebraska was the only state with two abortion-related amendments on the ballot: Nebraska Initiative 439, the Right to Abortion Initiative, and Nebraska Initiative 434, The Protect Women and Children Initiative. Voters rejected the most extreme of the two initiatives.
Nebraska citizens rejected Initiative 439 (51% to 48%). The measure would have enshrined a right to abortion up to “viability” in the state constitution. However, since no gestational age was identified, the amendment would have opened the door for unfettered, full-term abortion. It also would have compelled the state’s supreme court to strike down nearly all pro-life protections.
Nebraska voters passed Initiative 434 (55% to 45%), a measure that protects unborn children in the second and third trimester of pregnancy. Nebraska law currently limits abortion to the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. The constitutional amendment will restrict changes to the gestational limit beyond the first trimester.
“Operation Rescue applauds the pro-life citizens and organizations that worked so hard in these states to stop abortion extremists from rewriting their state constitutions and, in doing so, attempting to secure foundational protections for barbaric child-killing,” said Newman. “We wish there had been more wins for our side in these ballot measures. Clearly, we have more work to do in changing the hearts of this nation.”
HEAVY LOSSES
In Arizona, the “Right to Abortion Initiative” passed with tragic, overwhelming support – 62% of the vote – enshrining a right to abortion up to “viability” in the state constitution. With no clear definition of “viability,” this amendment will undoubtedly open the door for unfettered, full-term abortions, extending beyond the state’s current gestational limit of 15 weeks.
Colorado voters also passed a pro-abortion amendment with over 60% of the vote. The “Right to Abortion and Health Insurance Coverage Initiative” enshrines a right to abortion in the state constitution and forces insurance health plans to cover abortion procedures. Colorado already has no gestational limits on abortion, but this amendment will ensure that any future legislation attempting to protect preborn children fails.
As expected, Maryland’s pro-abortion amendment passed with almost no resistance, gaining 70% of the vote. The “Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment” enshrines a right to abortion through all nine months in the state constitution. Maryland already has no gestational limits on abortion. This amendment would make any future legislative attempts to protect preborn children unsuccessful.
Missouri experienced the most significant loss. Previously an abortion-free state, pro-life votes fell just short of the required 50% needed to stop the pro-abortion amendment. The “Missouri Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment” passed with 52% of the vote and enshrines a right to abortion up to “viability” in the state constitution. However, with no clear definition of “viability,” this amendment will undoubtedly open the door for unfettered, full-term abortions in a state where preborn children had protection through all nine months.
Voters in Montana also failed to stop the pro-abortion amendment. With 57% of the vote, the “Right to Abortion Initiative” enshrines a right to abortion up to “viability” in the state constitution. However, like several other ballot measures, gestational age for “viability” is not established. This amendment will open the door for unfettered, full-term abortions and prompt the Montana Supreme Court to nullify existing and future pro-life legislation.
Nevada citizens voted in favor of the Right to Abortion Initiative 63% to 37%. The amendment will enshrine a right to abortion up to “viability” in the state constitution. Though Nevada already allowed abortion up to 24 weeks gestation, the new amendment offers no gestational age for “viability.” This vague language will undoubtedly open the door for unfettered, full-term abortions and lead the Nevada Supreme Court to strike down pro-life protections.
As expected, New Yorkers passed Prop 1 62% to 39%, enshrining the right to abortion in the state constitution. The text of the so-called “Equal Protection of Law Amendment” includes no stated gestational limit – in fact, the word abortion is not even used. Instead, the amendment states that people cannot be denied rights based on “pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive healthcare and autonomy.” These “rights” would extend to all nine months of pregnancy. This amendment will pave the way for the New York Supreme Court to strike down current pro-life protections. Any efforts on the part of the state’s congress to implement future laws protecting preborn children at any stage of pregnancy will likely be futile, as the state’s supreme court is bound to strike it down.
Texas also saw a disappointing defeat on a citywide ballot measure in Amarillo sponsored by Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn. The proposed ordinance would have made the city of Amarillo a Sanctuary City for the Unborn, outlawing abortion within the city limits. Mark Lee Dickson, Founder of the Sanctuary Cities organization, reported that this is the first Texas city to reject the ordinance, with 59% of citizens voting against it and only 41% voting in favor of it.
“Some of these losses were expected,” said Newman, “ but that doesn’t make them any less tragic. Missouri is especially devastating, as Operation Rescue played an active role in finally seeing that state become abortion-free. But the pro-life movement is no stranger to struggle and perceived defeat.
“Our hope remains seated in Christ; our hearts remain steadfast; we will not give up or go away. Abortion has never been a ‘right,’ only a very great evil, and we are going to keep fighting for the lives of our preborn brothers and sisters until the horror of child-killing finally comes to an end.”
“The abortion-lovers of the Biden administration and the Harris/Walz campaign are on their way out the door – America voted them out. There is new hope and a new year on the way, and Operation Rescue, at least, is ready for it. We are going to keep saving lives.”
This report may be republished with inclusion of the following acknowledgement: “This article was originally published by Operation Rescue, a leading pro-life, Christian activist organization dedicated to exposing abortion abuses, demanding enforcement, saving innocent lives, and building an abortion-free America. The author, Sarah Neely, is Project Coordinator for Operation Rescue.”
