Democrats have mobilized in support of Amendment 4, which protects abortion up to viability in Florida, as it comes up for a vote in November. Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) recently predicted the Amendment 3 ballot initiative,m which legalizes recreational marijuana for adults over 21, would fail. However, in recent comments to The Floridian, Representative Sheila Cherfilus McCormick (D-FL) suggested the opposite, telling us that "anytime abortion is on the ballot, it wins."
Earlier in April, at a Fort Lauderdale press conference, Gov. DeSantis suggested, "Once voters figure out how radical both of those are...they are going to fail," referencing Amendments 3 and 4.
"We have seen over and over again throughout other states that abortion is a huge issue for all women or most women. Anytime abortion is on the ballot, it wins. So I have not seen any evidence to show that women or the country has shifted from that, especially most recently," said Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick in her interview with The Floridian.
More to the point, the Florida Congresswoman suggested the abortion amendment would have greater support than the marijuana amendment, even if liberals will vote for both.
"I cannot see someone coming in to vote for marijuana and not for abortion, I cannot see them coming in. I can see someone coming in voting for abortion and not marijuana, but not the inverse. So I think that is definitely going to win and bring people out, those two issues," Rep. Cherfilus McCormick concluded.
Other Florida Democrats have been similarly skeptical of Gov. DeSantis's prediction that the abortion amendment would fail, including Representative Jared Moskowitz (D-FL).
Rep. Moskowitz told The Floridian that the vote would be much narrower but likely in favor of retaining abortion.
"I think it’s a 57-62 issue like I don’t think this is a 70 percent issue and I don’t think it’s a 50 percent issue I think its right on the cusp. I think if there’s a significant turnout, it passes, but the idea that it is going to fail, I don’t think that’s a foregone conclusion," said Rep. Moskowitz.
Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) mocked DeSantis's prediction, referencing the Presidential run he suspended in January, "Given his recent political track record, I think no one should really put much credence into his ability to be a strategist."