The results of Tuesday’s midterm elections were certainly disappointing for pro-lifers.
The results of Tuesday’s midterm elections were certainly disappointing for pro-lifers. Democrats won control of both the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate. There’s a good chance that Democrats will use their power to pass a federal budget that does not contain the Hyde Amendment. That means that federal taxpayer dollars could be funding abortion through Medicaid. There is also a good chance that Senate Democrats will try to block President Trump’s judicial nominations.
The outcomes at the state level were disappointing as well. Ballot questions in Nevada and Virginia that would create a constitutional right to an abortion in their respective states each passed with more than 60 percent of the vote. In Missouri, pro-lifers tried to enact Question 3, which would remove abortion from Missouri’s state constitution and ban transgender treatments for minors. Unfortunately, Question 3 fell short, receiving about 44.5 percent of the vote.
The best news of the night for pro-lifers came from Idaho. Question 1, which would have placed legal abortion in Idaho’s state constitution, was rejected by Idaho voters — receiving only about 44 percent of the vote. This shows that pro-lifers can win direct democracy campaigns in conservative parts of the country. Pro-life efforts were bolstered by the Church of Latter-day Saints, which publicly opposed Question 1 and by grassroots activism from various pro-life groups including Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust and Students for Life of America.
There was also some good news for pro-lifers at the local level. By a 53–47 margin, voters in Seminole, Texas, adopted an ordinance declaring Seminole a sanctuary city for the unborn. This will strengthen existing pro-life laws in Texas by outlawing abortion and abortion trafficking in Seminole. Considering that Seminole is near New Mexico, which has very permissive abortion policies, additional pro-life protections are welcome. Seminole is now the 101st city nationwide to become a sanctuary city for the unborn.