Is that a modicum of hope I'm feeling?
Last night, Kansans were asked whether they wanted to remove the abortion protections outlined in their state's constitution, and they responded with a resounding, "No." Abortion will remain legal in Kansas.
A 59–41 margin may not sound like a lot to you, but, as my colleague Abby Vesoulis explains, the odds were stacked against pro-choice advocates. They had to deal with a closed primary system that encouraged Republican voter turnout; aggressively misleading messaging from anti-abortion groups; and a confusingly worded ballot question.
"Kansans know that our votes for president will not swing the electoral college," Neal Allen, a political science professor Wichita State University, told Abby. "But now, Kansans' votes will start to set the direction of abortion rights in this country."
In fact, Kansas has a long history as a battleground state for abortion rights. Today, Mother Jones published an excerpt from my colleague Becca Andrews' forthcoming book, No Choice: The Destruction of Roe v. Wade and the Fight to Protect a Fundamental American Right. In it, Becca paints a picture of the Kansas abortion clinic where Dr. George Tiller worked until his assassination in 2009. Becca's depiction of Dr. Tiller's humor and compassion amazes me. Her searing interview with an anti-choice protester who attempted to set fire to two abortion clinics amazes me in a different way. The article, and the tumultuous status of abortion care in the United States, raises the question: With abortion protected, for now, in Kansas, how can providers be sure they're safe?
I encourage you to check it out (and pre-order Becca's book). And, hey, enjoy some local news coverage of last night's results, too.
—Abigail Weinberg
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