By Anne Reed
While post-election polling shows young voters supported Trump based on the economy – a high priority for voters at any age – many still actively supported the radically pro-abortion state constitutional ballot amendments.
“This is not the ‘pro-life generation’ we hoped for,” said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. “Pro-lifers have worked hard for decades to educate Americans about the sanctity of human life in the womb, as well as the short- and long-term negative effects of abortion on women, families, and society. We have even opened thousands of pregnancy resource centers across the nation. Still, we simply are not seeing evidence of the changed hearts and minds we have longed to see.”
Now that abortion is back in the hands of the states, this reality has been amplified. The culture war is raging more strongly than ever. When states pass laws protecting unborn children, the stigmatization of abortion will naturally result in some hearts being softened. But others only become more hardened.
Ten states had pro-abortion constitutional amendments on the ballot earlier this month. While seven enshrined abortion in state constitutions, pro-lifers celebrated the defeat of three – in Florida, Nebraska, and South Dakota. Since Roe was overturned in 2022, this was the first time any pro-abortion ballot initiatives failed to pass.
However, when looking at the numbers closely, some disturbing facts come into focus. In Florida, a 60% supermajority must be reached to pass a constitutional amendment. Though the ballot measure failed to pass, 57% of Floridians voted in favor of the amendment that would have enshrined abortion in the state constitution – in a state where its 50 abortion facilities are at risk of closing after a heartbeat protection law was enacted months ago.
Nebraska citizens more narrowly rejected Initiative 439 with a 51% to 48% vote. South Dakota, however, experienced a resounding pro-life win when it rejected the pro-abortion ballot initiative 60% to 40%.
Kamala Harris openly campaigned on abortion rights in hopes of securing the vote of those who believe abortion is a fundamental right. However, CBS exit polls in battleground states of Arizona and Nevada showed that many voters supported the pro-abortion ballot amendments without backing Harris. Though a majority cast a vote in favor of abortion, many of those same voters also voted for now President Elect Donald Trump.
In Nevada, 25% of voters who cast their vote for Trump also voted in favor of the abortion amendment (Question 6). Of that group, a majority (55%) said the economy was their most important issue when voting for president, versus only 5% that made abortion their top issue.
The situation in Arizona was nearly identical. Twenty-three percent who voted for the abortion ballot initiative (Proposition 139) also voted for Trump.
What does this mean?
People want the economy they believe Trump will create for them. Along those same lines, they also want the right to “the American dream” at the detriment of unborn children. The bottom line is that many Americans believe that if an unexpected pregnancy is perceived to get in the way of dreams of material successes and conveniences, the so-called “right” to “terminate a pregnancy” should be available.
But they either do not understand or do not care that “terminating a pregnancy” is killing an innocent human being.
The specifics from the CBS exit polling is unsettling – revealing that by far, in every demographic, voters supported the abortion amendment in greater numbers than they supported Harris for president.
| Demographic | Voted for Harris | Voted “YES” on Abortion |
| Men | 42% | 59% |
| Women | 54% | 68% |
| Republican Women | 5% | 35% |
| Independents | 46% | 66% |
| Under Age 45 | 53% | 70% |
Perhaps the most startling contrast is among Republican women. While only 5% voted for Harris, a whopping 35% voted yes to codify a right to abortion in the state constitution. While a narrow majority of young people (under age 45) voted for Harris, a remarkable 70% voted in favor of abortion.
“These numbers reveal an incredible need for evangelism and solid biblical teaching that does not shy away from pressing social issues of our day,” said Newman. “When the church allows the world to be the voice on this extremely consequential issue, we shouldn’t be surprised by widespread support of child sacrifice – marketed by the abortion industry and media as ‘healthcare’ and ‘reproductive freedom.’
“If we believe abortion is murder we must act like it,” said Newman. “Our methods must change. We must refocus the pro-life movement for victory . How many of young people have seen a photo of an aborted baby? How many know how a late-term abortion is done? How many see a determination on the part of Christians to boldly and truthfully speak on behalf of innocent unborn children when it costs them something? How many know about the regular injuries and deaths of mothers at the hands of abortionists and dangerous abortion pills?”
Jonathan Darnel is one of many currently imprisoned for standing between preborn children and death, as thousands of Operation Rescue volunteers did in the 80s and 90s before the federal FACE (Freedom of Access to Clinics) Act was enacted. Incarcerated for his participation in a pro-life rescue at the notoriously evil late-term abortion clinic Washington Surgi-Clinic, Darnel stated the following in a recent letter from prison:
“Roe is gone, but abortion rates are rising again, and DIY chemical abortion is legal in every state (since moms who abort are legally immune). We’ve made zero progress convincing Americans that we’re right, and now we don’t even have an anti-abortion political party.”
Darnel went on to say that he has not sworn off rescues, because he believes it to be a focal point for anti-abortion America to rally around.
“…I hold out hope that, just maybe, knowing that some people are still rescuing and taking the consequences will overcome all fears/excuses and transform more of you into the champions preborn children both need and deserve.
“By ‘you’ I mean you, one of the millions of American citizens who recognize abortion as an unspeakable evil and wish someone would end it. That someone is you. You need to start doing all the simple, albeit personally costly, things necessary to reach your goal. You must realize that no person or group with a famous name, large bank account, and lots of power is going to do the job for you.”
Newman added, “God has granted us mercy – a momentary reprieve from pro-abortion radicals in power. This is our moment! We were created for a time such as this. We must be the church. Of course, we need to care for people who are lost, hurting, misinformed, and rebellious – offering material help and truth at every turn – but our first priority in this fight must be the innocent child. We are anti-abortion because we believe it is incredibly evil to kill little boys and little girls created in the image of God.
“Trump will continue to help the pro-life movement make headway, but the church was called long before Trump arrived on the scene to ‘hold back those being led away to death,’ and to bring the light of Christ into the darkness.”
