Missouri voters reject abortion ban proposal

Missouri voters rejected a ballot proposal that would have imposed a new abortion ban, according to an Associated Press race call. The measure, which would have limited abortion access to cases of rape, incest, or fetal anomalies, lost to the state's existing law allowing abortion until fetal viability.

The proposal was placed on the ballot by the Republican-led legislature and had been supported by prominent Republican leaders, including Governor Mike Kehoe. However, many campaign ads focused on a related ban on gender-affirming care for minors rather than directly on abortion restrictions.

Opponents of the abortion ban argued that the focus on gender-affirming care was an attempt to mislead voters. They noted that Missouri already has a statute banning puberty blockers and hormone therapy for minors, though these prohibitions are set to expire in 2027.

The campaign to defeat the proposal, known as Amendment 3, received significantly more funding than the campaign to pass it. Over $26 million in donations of $5,000 or more were raised for the defeat effort, compared to around $6.7 million for the pro-ban campaign.

This defeat marks the second time Missouri voters have rejected an abortion ban, following a similar measure in 2024. The outcome reinforces the state's current abortion policy and highlights the divided political landscape on reproductive rights across the country.