When the Florida Supreme Court on Monday ruled that an abortion rights measure and a referendum on recreational marijuana use could legally be placed on the November ballot, it wasn’t just a defeat for Attorney General Ashley Moody, who fought both measures and tried to keep them off the ballot on behalf of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Because both questions are expected to ignite Democrat voters and turn them out more, the ruling could also be a blow to Sen. Rick Scott, whose challenge from former Congresswoman Debbie Mucarsel-Powell has suddenly become much more dangerous. And it’s a slap on the wrist for Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar, whose once paltry challenge from former Key Biscayne Mayor Mike Davey just got some juice.
“In November, Florida voters will stand up for women’s freedom to make their most personal medical decisions by rejecting this abortion ban and firing Rick Scott from the Senate,” said Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee spokesperson Maeve Coyle said in a statement.
Mucarsel-Powell celebrated the ruling with five tweets posted in just a matter of hours, including a 52-second video that also blasts the court’s upholding of a six-week abortion ban, ironically on the same day.
“There is good news and bad news,” Mucarsel-Powell said. “The good news is that the ballot initiative to codify reproductive rights will be allowed on the ballot this November. The bad news is that the Florida Supreme Court just allowed a dangerous six-week abortion ban to go into effect that bans abortions before most women even know that they are pregnant.
“Rick Scott said that he would sign this ban — a ban with hardly any exceptions — if he were still governor,” she said. “Abortion bans are just the beginning. We’ve already seen attacks on birth control and IVF, and he’s done nothing to stop it.
“This November, reproductive rights are on the ballot. We have to vote to codify our reproductive rights and we have to vote out extremists like Rick Scott who want strip them away.”
“It has never been more important for us to show up this November to put an end to government interference, vote to protect abortion rights in Florida, and stop Rick Scott from passing a national abortion ban,” Mucarsel-Powell says.
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Pinecrest Councilwoman Anna Hochkammer, executive director of Florida Women’s Freedom Coalition, which spearheaded the petition drive, said the amendment was a motivator for many voters.
“This is an issue that motivates young people and women. Supporters tend to be very firm in their support,” Hochkammer told Political Cortadito, adding that it could benefit anyone that identifies with the issue, regardless of party. “It polls well with NPAs and Republicans. I think that if that helps a particular candidates’ chances she or he would be smart to lean into it.”
Davey also decided to lean into it.
“Our opponent, MAGA extremist Maria Elvira Salazar has repeatedly praised the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and supported a national abortion ban,” said a text from the Davey campaign that went out minutes after the rulings were announced. “At Team Davey, supporting reproductive freedom and protecting families’ privacy is at the heart of our campaign.
“We’re rallying voters to turn out for us AND vote for the critical amendment to protect abortion access,” says the text, which also is a fundraiser. Hey, why blow an opportunity?
Nobody was as publicly effusive about the recreational marijuana amendment, but there was some private celebrating going on as well.
The abortion amendment — which would make abortion legal while viable, typically through 24 months — is expected to motivate mostly women who were not necessarily moved by any candidates but could find themselves supporting those aligned with the cause. The recreational marijuana measure could bring out more young voters, which tend to vote Democrat anyway when they do bother to vote.
Both measures must be approved by at least 60% of state voters in order to pass as amendments. That is why both fronts plan to spend millions on getting out the vote.
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“The statewide campaign will cost $80 million to $100 million,” Hochkammer told Ladra, adding that current polling shows the abortion amendment will pass by more than 70%. “Donors from across the state pitched in to fund the petition, and they will support the campaign to ass the amendment, too. So will people across the country.
“There is no more complexing issue in American domestic politics today than access to abortion,” she said.
Recreational marijuana use — which is fully legal in 24 states — has, reportedly, almost as much support, although the Florida amendment is controversial because only current medical marijuana suppliers would be allowed to supply recreational weed, creating what some call a monopoly. Of the 26 states that don’t have fully legal marijuana, 13 have legalized medical marijuana. That includes Florida, where 71% of the voters approved medicinal pot in 2016.
A November poll by the University of North Florida indicated that 67% of state voters would approve the recreational marijuana amendment. A January poll by the Florida Chamber of Commerce, however, showed that only 57% supported the amendment, which would not be enough for it to pass.
Either way, Truelieve, which reportedly spent about close to $40 million to get the measure on the ballot, and the investment won’t end there. The largest medical marijuana operator in the state will likely pour millions more into a get-out-the-vote effort. And, again, whether or not the amendment passes, the brouhaha around it is likely to help Democrats.
Some observers say, however, that the opposite could be true — that an ugly campaign featuring pot-smoking baby killers taking over our suburbs will turn out more pearl-clutching Republican voters.
Thanks to the Florida Supreme Court and its wisdom, we shall see in November.
Abortion rights, recreational pot make Florida ballot, may help Democrats added by Ladra on
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