Staff Reports
In a shocking and disappointing turn of events, Ohioans voted against Amendment 1 in a Tuesday special election, preserving the current voter approval threshold for constitutional amendments at a mere 50 percent plus 1. This means that special interest groups, particularly those with an extreme pro-abortion agenda, will have an easier time passing their dangerous initiatives in the upcoming November ballot. If the Ohio Right to Make Reproductive Decisions Including Abortion Initiative is successful, it will have devastating consequences for parental rights.
This initiative, which falsely claims to be about repealing Ohio’s “heartbeat law,” goes much further than its proponents would have you believe. Legal experts have warned that it would not only cancel out parental-consent laws, but also parental notification for minors seeking abortions or even sex-change surgeries. This radical amendment would also eliminate health protections for all individuals undergoing such procedures, endangering vulnerable populations across the state.
Groups like Planned Parenthood and the ACLU, known for their opposition to parental rights and their support for abortion and gender-affirming care, are behind this dangerous initiative. Their influence in this campaign is evident, as the “No” side currently leads with 56.41 percent of the vote, compared to the “Yes” side’s 43.59 percent.
Secretary of State Frank LaRose, a Republican running for the Senate, campaigned tirelessly in support of the amendment, recognizing the potential for out-of-state liberal groups to fund their extreme policies in Ohio if it failed. Pro-life organizations also championed the amendment, including Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, which expressed deep disappointment in those who remained silent or failed to act.
When it’s a worthy cause, and this certainly is, it’s better to have fought and lost than never fought at all.
My statement on Issue 1: pic.twitter.com/Va9T7iGYMz
— Frank LaRose (@FrankLaRose) August 9, 2023
The amendment’s failure is a significant victory for the pro-choice side, as noted by Dave Wasserman of Cook Political Report. This outcome could potentially benefit Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown, a vulnerable incumbent, who is seeking re-election in a state that is becoming increasingly conservative. Republicans must not bury their heads in the sand and must stand strong against the pro-abortion left’s attempts to undermine state constitutions.
The stakes are high, and conservatives cannot afford to be complacent. They must unite and fight against these extreme initiatives that seek to erode parental rights and expand access to abortion. Ohio has become a battleground state in the fight for the unborn, and it is crucial that conservatives stand up and defend the sanctity of life. Only by doing so can they secure victory and protect the foundational values of our great nation.
