Idaho voters delivered a major victory for the unborn Tuesday night, defeating a radical abortion initiative that sought to erase the state’s pro-life protections.
Proposition 1 would have created a vague “right to reproductive freedom and privacy” for “every person,” effectively gutting Idaho’s current law that criminalizes abortion except in cases of documented rape, incest, or danger to a mother’s life.
Conservatives won — but Idaho was the only bright spot.
Virginia and Nevada voters passed amendments codifying unlimited abortion in their state constitutions. In Missouri, voters rejected a constitutional amendment that would have repealed a 2024 measure enshrining abortion in the state constitution. The Missouri repeal effort, which lost 55 to 45 percent, also aimed to ban harmful “trans” procedures on minors.
“CONSERVATIVES DID NOT GET THE OUTCOME THEY HOPED FOR IN TUESDAY NIGHT’S MIDTERM ELECTION RESULTS.”
The Virginia abortion measure passed despite a pending legal challenge over “deceptive” language and ballot procedures. That case is set to be heard in state court later this month.
Beyond abortion, conservatives scored wins on election integrity across multiple states.
Arkansas, Alaska, Kansas, South Dakota, and West Virginia all passed measures specifying that only qualified U.S. citizens may vote in their elections. Nevada, North Carolina, and Ohio voters approved initiatives codifying voter ID requirements in their state constitutions.
Even deep-blue Massachusetts delivered a surprise — voters there rejected an initiative that would have implemented a top-two primary system seemingly designed to box Republican candidates out of general elections.
But other election reforms fell short. Colorado and California voters rejected pro-voter ID initiatives.
North Dakota and South Dakota voters both rejected amendments that would have raised the threshold for amending their state constitutions to 60 percent instead of a simple majority. The measures were aimed at stopping Democrats from using the referendum process to advance left-wing policies in red states.
Missouri voters passed a Democrat-backed amendment prohibiting the state legislature from repealing or amending a citizen-led ballot initiative unless at least 80 percent of both chambers vote to refer a proposed change to the ballot — and voters then approve it. The measure appears designed to box the GOP-run legislature out of the initiative process.
Virginia voters also passed a Democrat-backed constitutional amendment that automatically restores convicted felons’ ability to vote upon release. Democrat Gov. Abigail Spanberger recently restored voting rights for roughly 66,000 previously incarcerated felons — several of whom are deceased.
Women’s sports protections delivered a rare bright spot. Arizona and Nebraska passed initiatives ensuring trans-identifying men cannot infringe on female athletics. The Arizona measure went further, banning schools and athletic associations from allowing a trans-identifying individual to use a restroom, locker room, or other “private space” that differs from his or her sex.
Colorado and Washington have women’s sports protection measures still undecided as of publication. Colorado’s preliminary results show the initiative winning 52 to 48 percent, with 76 percent of votes tabulated. Washington’s measure is winning 57 to 43 percent, with 60 percent counted.
Vermont voters passed an initiative enshrining special protections for LGBT-identifying individuals in the state constitution. Critics raised concerns the measure creates “different standards of equality” and could target Christians who hold biblical views of marriage and sex.
Virginia passed an amendment repealing provisions recognizing marriage as a union between a man and a woman, while adding language barring the commonwealth from denying marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
Wisconsin voters rejected an amendment that would have barred government officials from shuttering places of worship during a state of emergency — including public health emergencies. The measure was geared at preventing a repeat of 2020 Covid abuses, when state officials severely restricted church attendance while placing less strict rules on non-religious entities.
On immigration, Arizona voters passed a measure designating drug cartels as domestic terrorist organizations and requiring the state Department of Homeland Security to do “everything in its authority” to address cartel threats.
Arkansas voters approved a constitutional amendment reaffirming citizens’ right to keep and bear arms. Indiana and Tennessee passed pro-law-and-order amendments tightening bail requirements for violent offenders.
But Massachusetts gun owners lost. Bay State voters approved a measure upholding several gun control restrictions passed by the Democrat-run legislature in 2024, including an “assault weapons” ban and a registration system to track firearm ownership.
Florida voters passed a Republican-backed property tax amendment that will increase the homestead exemption for all non-school taxes to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, adjusted for inflation thereafter.
Iowa voters appear poised to pass a constitutional amendment requiring a two-thirds vote of the legislature before any increase in the state’s income or corporate tax rate.
Wisconsin voters passed a constitutional amendment banning government institutions — including public education — from adopting race- and sex-favored preferences and policies.
Arizona voters shot down the same type of measure, rejecting a constitutional amendment that would have prohibited DEI and affirmative action policies in government institutions, including a ban on state-enforced DEI training for government employees.
Republicans faced catastrophic losses across the electoral map Tuesday night, including in several supposedly “red states.” But amid the carnage, these ballot measures will shape how states are governed for years to come.
