POLITICO: Why Democrats Can’t Rely on Abortion Ballot Initiatives to Help Them Win

Democrats are scrambling to put state abortion-rights initiatives on the ballot this year in the hope that the measures will drive turnout and boost their candidates in national and local elections.

But those initiatives may not give Democrats the lift they are aiming for, according to a POLITICO analysis of five abortion-related measures that have appeared on the ballot since Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022. Voters decisively upheld abortion rights in every single case. But those margins were largely driven by Republican voters who also voted for GOP candidates.

ROKK SVP and long-time advisor of swing- and red-state Democrats, John LaBombard, spoke with POLITICO about what ballot initiatives mean for candidates.