Florida Democrats optimistic about election with abortion measure on November ballot
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCJB/Gray Florida Capital Bureau) - Florida Democrats are increasingly optimistic about their chances in November now that abortion will be on the ballot. Tuesday morning, President Joe Biden’s campaign says Florida is now winnable despite Donald Trump carrying the state in 2020 and 2016.
Every time abortion has been on the ballot since the Dobbs decision in 2022, it hasn’t lost. Democrats are hoping the same will be true in Florida come November.
“Voters in Florida and across the country are rejecting extremism and taking back the power to make their own personal decisions about their health and family,” Florida Democratic Party chair Nikki Fried said in a video statement.
Having voters decide if Floridians should have access to abortion months after a 6-week ban is put in place is key for Florida Democrats this year. Political analysts are expecting a low voter turnout in November with a Biden-Trump rematch at the top of the ticket. The question will be how many people are one issue voters.
“Abortion is not there at the top five issues people are concerned about they say is the most important to their vote,” political analyst Susan MacManus said.
RELATED: Florida Supreme Court upholds 15-week abortion ban, rules on ballot measure
Voters in six states approved abortion protections in the last two years, but those were off-year elections. Republican political strategist Brett Doster doesn’t think the ballot initiative will drive turnout as much as Democrats are hoping.
“The fact they are hanging their hat on a constitutional amendment to drive up Democratic turnout means Joe Biden has a serious problem here in Florida,” Doster said.
However, Florida House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskel disagreed. She said voters are aware.
“With voters paying more attention to down-ballot races, I’m optimistic we can have a reverse coattails effect where we start to drive turnout and help improve the numbers at the presidential level,” Rep. Driskel, (D) Tampa, said.
The proposed amendment would have to get 60 percent of the vote for it to pass. There are efforts in at least 12 other states to get abortion rights before voters this year.
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