State Voters Back Abortion Rights

What happened

Updated 10:24am ET

Voters backed abortion rights in Nevada, Virginia and Missouri, but Idaho rejected a measure to overturn its near-total ban.
Nevada approved constitutional protection for abortion until fetal viability, generally around 23 to 24 weeks, completing the required second statewide vote.
Virginia approved constitutional abortion protections that allow third-trimester restrictions with exceptions for the patient’s health or when the pregnancy cannot survive.
Missouri rejected a proposal to restore abortion restrictions, keeping the constitutional protections voters approved in 2024.
Idaho’s ban remains in place, and initiative organizer Melanie Folwell warned that the defeat would lead more doctors to leave the state.

How the left told it

Only one left-leaning outlet covered the story: The New Republic framed the results as evidence of abortion rights’ enduring popularity. It called abortion access “a winning issue, regardless of state,” highlighting victories in three states and describing Idaho as the sole exception.

How the right told it

Right-leaning outlets mostly emphasized setbacks for abortion opponents and concerns about expanded access. Breitbart described Virginia’s amendment as allowing abortion “up until birth,” while The Federalist called the measures “deceptive ballot measure schemes.” The Washington Examiner more straightforwardly described Idaho’s rejection as preserving one of the nation’s strictest bans.