The Biden-Harris team took advantage of Monday’s Florida Supreme Court decision on the state’s 6 week abortion ban that is set to go into effect next month. They stated that Florida could be a key state for the President, emphasizing that reproductive rights will be a deciding factor in the November election.
During a call with reporters from the Biden-Harris campaign, Florida State House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell pointed out the significant impact on the election, mentioning that the last time a Democratic presidential candidate carried Florida was when there was a measure against abortion on the ballot. This was the case with President Barack Obama in 2012. Driskell expressed optimism that the measure will be successful in November.
In 2012, Obama secured Florida's support with backing from Black, Hispanic, and younger voters under 30, despite facing a tough challenge. Notably, an abortion measure was on the ballot and was defeated. The measure aimed to prevent the use of public funds for abortions or health insurance covering abortion. The group Floridians Protecting Freedom, which is gathering signatures for the 2024 ballot measure, revealed that over 1 million signatures had been collected, with approximately 150,000 coming from registered Republican voters.
Although Florida has not been a swing state recently, the presence of abortion-related measures on the ballot after Roe v. Wade has consistently received strong support, even from some Republican voters. collected Biden-Harris 2024 Campaign Manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez asserted that Florida is a key focus for their campaign, highlighting their ability to raise the necessary funds for strategic investments in crucial states, unlike Trump's campaign, which lacks the financial resources and infrastructure.
Driskell emphasized that the initiative to collect ballot petitions received significant bipartisan support, gathering over a million signatures from Democrats, Republicans, and NPAs (No Party Affiliation). This demonstrates widespread consensus on the issue.
Currently, Trump is trying to counter the influence of Democrats in overturning Roe v. Wade, which he has taken credit for, by leveraging the indirect but racially loaded argument of “state’s rights.” Trump, who has faced allegations of rape, has expressed support for a 15-week abortion ban and suggested that women should face consequences for seeking abortion care.
Trump's attempting to respond to the Democratic momentum behind undoing Roe v. Wade by using the vague yet suggestive “state's rights” argument. Despite exceptions for cases of rape, incest, and human trafficking if reported to authorities, these crimes are historically under-reported, posing risks for victims in certain situations.
The decision to ban abortions in Florida effectively prevents women and girls from having abortions because most of them don't realize they're pregnant until after 6 weeks, especially in the Southeast.
The campaign points out that more than 17 million women of reproductive age live in Southern states with abortion bans in place, and many of them rely on Florida to access necessary care.
Putting the abortion measure on the ballot in Florida creates pressure for Trump and Republicans in a way that wouldn't have existed otherwise. While Democrats benefit electorally from supporting women's freedom, we shouldn't forget about those who will suffer and have their choices taken away due to the Republican abortion healthcare ban.
The last time a Democratic presidential candidate won Florida was when there was an anti-abortion measure on the ballot. Floridians pay attention to this, as was the case with President Barack Obama in 2012.
The campaign notes “more than 17 million women of reproductive age live in Southern states with abortion bans in effect – many of whom currently rely on Florida as an option to access needed care.”
The abortion measure being on the ballot in Florida does put pressure on Trump and Republicans in a way that would not have existed without it. But even as we can see the clear electoral benefit for Democrats, who support women and girls’ freedom, we can’t forget all of those who will suffer and whose choices have been stolen from them as a result of this Republican abortion healthcare ban.
