Post-Amendment 4 Fail, Democrats Demand Repeal of Six-Week Abortion Ban

Former Senator Lauren Book and the campaign behind a newly failed abortion rights amendment blasted Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration after the measure gained majority support, demanding the Republican-dominated Legislature repeal the state's six-week abortion ban.

It was the first ballot amendment in Florida history to fail after eclipsing 6 million votes in its favor.

The former Senate Minority Leader, Book pointed out that the reproductive measure, called Amendment 4, earned 57.15% of statewide support. Though it failed to reach the necessary 60% threshold to amend the state constitution, Book said these numbers prove most Floridians oppose the current six-week ban.

"Despite facing an unprecedented anti-campaign fueled by taxpayer dollars to spread harmful disinformation, YES on 4 secured 57% of the vote to reject the state’s dangerous abortion ban," Book said in a Wednesday morning statement, swiping at Gov. DeSantis' administration.

She referred to the 16 statewide campaign events hosted by DeSantis or his wife, Casey DeSantis, to combat Amendment 4 or Amendment 3, another failed measure that would have legalized marijuana. The governor's administration had also spent upwards of $19 million of taxpayer money on ads and campaigns against the citizen-led amendments, which was funneled through various state departments advocating against the measures.

"The results speak for themselves: Democrats, Republicans, and Independents alike agree that we must end this dangerous government overreach," Book added.

Amendment 4 would have overturned the six-week ban, muscled through the Republican-dominated Legislature in 2023, by enshrining abortion access until viability in the state constitution. Fetal viability, or when a fetus can survive outside the womb, is around 24 weeks. 6,061,263 Floridians voted for the measure compared to the 4,543,720 who nixed it.

This is the most "yes" votes on an Amendment in Florida history to fail; never before has a constitutional amendment eclipsed 6 million votes in support only to not pass, demonstrating the brutally volatile emotions on both sides. This is the second-most voted-on amendment in Florida history after this year's Amendment 3, which received almost 25,000 more votes (10,629,879 total) and just 55.89% approval.

The campaign that secured Amendment 4 on the ballot, Floridians Protecting Freedom, echoed Book's comments. Director Lauren Brenzel released a Tuesday night statement demanding that Florida's "extreme ban" be repealed.

"Despite relentless government sabotage, the state’s promotion of disinformation, and, anti-democratic attacks, the majority of Floridians still voted for Amendment 4," Brenzel said. "Today’s results are evidence of the strong support for abortion access in Florida and only fuels our resolve to keep fighting government interference."

Amendment 4 met or exceeded the 60% threshold in 10 of 67 counties, four of which voted for President-elect Donald Trump over Vice President Kamala Harris (Hillsborough, Monroe, Pinellas, and Seminole Counties). It met or reached at least 50%—or majority—support in 17 other counties, all of which voted for Trump. These include hard-red counties like Charlotte, Flagler, Hernando, Lake, Lee, Manatee, and Sarasota.

Broward County had the highest support percentage for Amendment 4 (68.94%) and Lafayette County had the lowest approval percentage (23.87%).

Florida voted in 2006 to raise the pass threshold for a constitutional amendment from 50% to 60%. Interestingly, that amendment only passed with 58 percent approval.