Florida’s Newly Enacted Six-Week Abortion Ban Opens a Path for Democrats

The Florida Supreme Court’s ruling, which also allowed for an abortion ballot initiative this November, “absolutely puts Florida into the top tier of swing states,” one Democratic strategist told NOTUS.

Florida Supreme Court
Florida’s Supreme Court allowed for an abortion ballot initiative to appear before voters in November. (AP Photo/Brendan Farrington) Brendan Farrington/AP

The Florida Supreme Court just made Democrats’ abortion message even more salient in the 2024 election.

The court allowed Gov. Ron DeSantis’ six-week abortion ban to take effect in 30 days while also clearing the way for an abortion initiative — which would enshrine abortion access up to the point of viability — to be on the ballot in November.The ruling will decimate abortion access in the South. With a total ban on abortion in neighboring Alabama and a six-week ban in place in Georgia, Florida has the most abortion clinics and providers in the region — access that will become heavily restricted next month.

Democrats have already responded to the ruling, calling on Floridians to come to the ballot box in November and vote in favor of abortion rights and their candidates. President Joe Biden’s campaign issued its strongest verbal commitment to date on investing in Florida this election cycle after the ruling.