A top anti-abortion group has described the election results of Ohio Issue 1 as "a warning" for other anti-abortion states in the United States, with the group claiming "dark money" was flooded out of state and into Ohio.
Ohio voters rejected the measure known as Issue 1 on Tuesday, keeping a simple majority to amend the state constitution, thus making it easier for an abortion rights constitutional amendment on the ballot this November to gain approval. As of 12:55 a.m. Wednesday, with over 99% of the vote counted, the no vote came out on top 56.96% to 43.04%; a yes vote would have increased the difficulty of amending the state constitution to require a 60% majority vote.
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“It is a sad day for Ohio and a warning for pro-life states across the nation," read a statement from Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America. "Millions of dollars and liberal dark money flooded Ohio to ensure they have a path to buy their extreme policies in a pro-life state. Tragically, some sat on the sideline while outsider liberal groups poured millions into Ohio."
The group stated that millions of dollars "from outside groups" were funneled into Ohio during the election "to mislead the people of Ohio." The group lamented that such "attacks on state constitutions" are part of the current strategy of "the extreme pro-abortion Left."
"That is why everyone must take this threat seriously and recognize progressives will win if their opponents are scared into submission by the pro-abortion Left," the group's statement read. "So long as the Republicans and their supporters take the ostrich strategy and bury their heads in the sand, they will lose again and again.”
The group has been adamant about Republican lawmakers pressing for anti-abortion policies, especially for Republican presidential candidates. The group briefly soured on former President Donald Trump before seemingly making amends with him in May.
In the wake of Ohio's Issue 1 election, the White House reveled in the election results, stating in a statement that the measure was "a blatant attempt to weaken voters' voices."
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Ohioans spoke loud and clear, and tonight democracy won," the White House statement read.
The vast majority of people will take a political candidate’s position on abortion into consideration before voting, according to a new poll released Tuesday. 55% of voters in the poll would consider a candidate’s abortion policies to be one of several key factors when voting, and another 29% said they would only vote for a candidate who shared their personal beliefs on abortion.