The push to pass a ballot initiative embedding abortion rights into Florida’s Constitution has amassed significant funding recently, gaining a huge financial edge over opponents as the vote draws near.
However, abortion-rights supporters are facing strong opposition from Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
Last week, DeSantis has been touring the state alongside anti-abortion doctors to rally against the amendment, labeling it deceptive and alleging it would permit abortions up to birth.
At a Jacksonville rally on Tuesday, he criticized the state Supreme Court’s decision to allow it on the ballot, stating, “The whole idea is to try to jam this through with a blizzard of lies. And these are things you don’t get a mulligan on. Once it’s in the constitution, there really is no going back.”
The group Floridians Protecting Freedom has raised over $100 million since their campaign began in April 2023.
By October 18, they had collected $104.12 million in cash and received $5.83 million worth of in-kind donations, spending around $95.39 million, including $12.68 million during the latest reporting period.
Meanwhile, the political committee founded by DeSantis to counter the measure has only collected approximately $6.3 million.
In Florida, proposed ballot measures must be reviewed by the state Supreme Court. Earlier this year, the DeSantis administration’s effort to prevent the measure from reaching the ballot was unsuccessful.
Recently, the DeSantis-led opposition significantly ramped up its efforts, possibly yielding results. Support for the amendment has dipped, with most polls indicating it falls just below the 60 percent approval needed.
DeSantis anticipates the amendment will not succeed. “Even though I think we’ll keep them under 60, you know, both of them are likely to get in excess of 50% of the vote, and so we’re going against the headwinds here,” he told the Shannon Joy Show about support for the amendments to Limit Government Interference with Abortion and the the Adult Personal Use of Marijuana.
