Florida is in a unique position when it comes to navigating Donald Trump’s stance on abortion. On one hand, the state has implemented one of the strictest abortion bans in the country. On the other hand, there is a ballot measure in November that could potentially establish broad protections for abortion rights in the state constitution. This puts Florida in a challenging position, as it tries to balance these two conflicting approaches to abortion.
The Republican Party of Florida, along with influential conservative lawmakers like Gov. Ron DeSantis, view Florida’s ballot initiative as “extreme” and urge voters to reject it. However, they are not requesting that Trump publicly advocate against the initiative. Instead, they generally agree with his position of leaving the contentious issue of abortion up to individual states to decide. This approach is supported even as abortion rights advocates in Arizona, a crucial battleground state, are also attempting to introduce a similar initiative on the ballot.
Evan Power, the chair of the Republican Party of Florida, expressed his belief that the issue at hand is a matter for individual states to decide. He stated, “That is why we will actively oppose the proposed Florida constitutional amendment, as we believe that the representatives elected by the people in Florida have already adopted a constitutionally-sound approach.”
State Senator Joe Gruters, a long-time ally of former President Trump and a member of the Republican National Committee, concurred with Power’s evaluation of state decision-making. Gruters praised the former president’s statement as “perfect.” When asked if he sought Trump’s assistance in promoting the referendum, Gruters expressed that Governor DeSantis, with whom he has had disagreements in the past, could continue to champion the issue.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, a Republican from Florida, stated that this issue is a matter of states’ rights.
“He is doing precisely what he is expected to do,” she commented about Trump.
Florida Republicans are being cautious in their approach to Trump, given his past reactions. Trump lashed out at his ally Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, for disagreeing with him on abortion. This caused disappointment among influential anti-abortion groups like Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, although their president, Marjorie Dannenfelser, later reaffirmed their support for Trump.
During his campaign, Trump did not address whether he would disclose his ballot vote on the abortion referendum, which he would be eligible to vote on as a Florida resident. While he has criticized the six-week ban supported by DeSantis, referring to it as a “terrible mistake,” he has also expressed strong opposition to late-term abortions, deeming them as “radical.”
Carlos Lacasa, a former state Representative who aligns with the Republican party and advocates for abortion rights, praised Trump’s stance on the issue as both intelligent and strategic. Lacasa described the President’s position as a thoughtful and moderate approach.
According to him, it is likely that he will distance himself from the Florida initiative. He believes that there is nothing for him to gain and everything to lose in this situation.
Some anti-abortion organizations and Republican lawmakers expressed their disappointment with Trump’s disregard for Florida’s ballot amendment and his refusal to clearly state a national gestational limit. Mathew Staver, the founder of the Liberty Counsel, who argued against presenting Florida’s abortion referendum to the state Supreme Court, believes that Trump should wholeheartedly support the sanctity of human life and not shy away from addressing this crucial issue. He emphasizes the importance of respecting life, particularly when it comes to the most vulnerable individuals.
“He expressed conservative principles on various topics, including abortion, which attracted individuals from different communities who typically did not support the Republican party,” Staver explained. “This resonated with people, and I hope we can witness a similar response here.”
Roach expressed his concerns about the leadership potential of an individual who is unwilling to disclose their stance on the ballot initiative. According to him, this lack of courage is a negative indicator.
Republican state Representative Mike Beltran, one of the 70 state House members who supported the state’s six-week abortion ban last year, maintains that the matter was always intended to be determined by individual states. He finds it “absurd” for Republicans to suddenly advocate for a national decision on the issue.
According to Beltran, Trump’s impact on protecting life surpasses that of any other American in the last century due to his Supreme Court appointments. Beltran contrasts Trump’s actions with those of Ron DeSantis and Joe Biden, highlighting the significance of the Supreme Court appointments made by the former.
In a recent interview, Senator Rick Scott (R-Fla.), a staunch ally of President Trump and who is facing reelection in November, expressed his opposition to federally-imposed restrictions on abortion, asserting that it should be left to individual states to decide. However, he also stated that if he were still serving as governor, he would have signed the six-week abortion limit into law. In a subsequent statement to the Washington Post, he confirmed his intention to vote against the referendum.
The Biden campaign is showing confidence in the power of abortion rights as a winning issue, as they have declared Florida as “in play”. Despite Democrats not heavily investing in the state and struggling with voter registration, Florida Democratic Chair Nikki Fried emphasized that voting against Trump and Scott in November would hold the GOP responsible for the abortion restrictions that sparked the referendum in the first place.
Messaging about the November abortion referendum is expected to incur substantial costs for both sides. In order for the referendum to pass, it requires a support of 60 percent, which means gaining the support of voters from various political backgrounds. Roach emphasized the need for a comprehensive campaign that includes advertising on various platforms, as well as utilizing mailers and text messages.
“I concur that the Republican Party embodies the values of life,” Roach stated. “I also agree with Trump’s strategy to appeal to a broader audience and focus on the issues that we can effectively address during the general election.” However, Roach expressed a desire for a more principled stance in order to mobilize voters in Florida against this amendment.”
