Democratic Infighting Over an Abortion Rights Ballot Measure in New York Is Getting Ugly

The state Democratic Party “pretty much dropped the ball from the beginning,” one New York lawmaker told NOTUS.

Kathy Hochul

New York lawmakers say the state Democratic Party is bungling an opportunity with the abortion initiative. Hans Pennink/AP

On paper, a ballot initiative designed to protect abortion rights in New York should be an easy sell to voters in this bright blue state.

But Democrats are concerned that the vaguely worded constitutional amendment known as Proposition 1 — placed on the ballot by the state legislature — isn’t breaking through to voters. Some lawmakers are now squarely blaming state Democratic Party officials for not putting enough educational resources behind the measure and — in the absence of consistent messaging from Democrats — Republicans have been able to fill the void in their fight against it.

Democratic Party officials “pretty much dropped the ball from the beginning on taking on this issue,” state Sen. Liz Krueger, the author of the amendment, told NOTUS.