Pro-abortion groups are significantly outpacing pro-life organizations in fundraising for abortion-related measures on ballots across the United States this November. Recent campaign finance data gathered by Open Secrets and reported by the Associated Press indicates that supporters of abortion rights have raised nearly $108 million in comparison to just $14 million amassed by pro-life opponents. This financial disparity demonstrates a marked advantage for pro-abortion campaigns as they mobilize to influence voter decisions on key abortion amendments in various states.
Abortion measures will be presented on ballots in ten states, with most proposing to embed the right to abortion within state constitutions, some proposing the right to access abortion throughout pregnancies. A notable exception is New York, where the ballot proposal aims to eliminate discrimination tied to pregnancy and reproductive healthcare. The financial resources raised by these pro-abortion groups facilitate extensive advertising campaigns across multiple platforms, including television, radio, and online, enhancing their ability to communicate their messages to voters effectively.
States like Missouri and Montana highlight the implications of the funding divide, as pro-abortion groups have poured more than $5 million into campaign contributions and over $11 million in advertising for measures to protect abortion rights. In stark contrast, pro-life efforts in Missouri have managed to invest less than $50,000 in opposing these measures. Montana reflects a similar trend, where pro-abortion organizations have raised $11.8 million against a meager $105,000 gathered by pro-life groups. While states such as Arizona, Colorado, and Nebraska exhibit differing levels of spending and fundraising, the trend favors pro-abortion advocacy overall.
In Florida, the campaign backing abortion measures has actively raised over $60 million, compared to $9 million from opposing groups. Significant contributions have been provided by Planned Parenthood and large individual donors, notably Marsha Zlatin Laufer, who alone has donated over $9 million to the pro-abortion side. In addition to these contributions, various left-leaning dark money organizations, reminiscent of funding strategies during previous battles over abortion policies, have funneled substantial amounts to support these initiatives, further widening the financial gap between pro-abortion and pro-life efforts.
The 2022 Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization drastically shifted the political landscape by overturning Roe v. Wade, which had established a nationwide right to abortion for nearly five decades. This transformation has compelled pro-abortion organizations to pivot their strategies, leveraging state ballot measures as a powerful tool to encapsulate abortion rights within state constitutions—an action that is challenging to reverse and takes precedence over legislative developments. Such measures often receive strong backing from affluent, predominantly left-leaning entities and can significantly reshape state policies regarding reproductive rights.
The success rate for pro-abortion ballot measures has been notably high since the fall of Roe. During the 2022 elections, voters in multiple states, including California and Michigan, expressly codified abortion rights into their constitutions. Concurrently, other states have rejected amendments that sought to limit abortion access, illustrating a robust momentum for pro-abortion initiatives. Meanwhile, Republicans have focused on advancing protection for the unborn, while Democrats have moved to broaden access to abortion services nationwide through initiatives such as shield laws and telehealth provisions. Consequently, the United States has witnessed a significant uptick in abortions, signaling a pivotal moment in the longstanding debate over reproductive rights.
