It wasn't even close

Ohio voters resoundingly rejected a Republican attempt to reduce their power to pass state constitutional amendment by majority vote on Tuesday. And in doing so, the majority ensured they'll be able to enshrine a right to abortion in the state's basic law through an initiative in November.

Click to enlarge. The red is the NO position; all the larger cities.

It took only an hour and a half after polls closed for the AP to call the election for the NO increase to the threshold position. Republicans had hoped by calling a summer vote and making it harder to pass an initiative, they could fend off the state's majority. But now abortion rights will be on the ballot in Ohio in November and chances of more than 50 percent voting for reproductive health care have to look good.

When they can't win at the ballot box, Republicans try to change the rules. Not this time.

• • •

Expect Ohio Democratic U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown who will be up for re-election in 2024 to run strongly for abortion rights. The more interesting question is whether Montana Democratic U.S. Senator Jon Tester, who is also up, will be singing a similar song. He should be. Polls show that Montanans 

... reflect a libertarian mindset across the political spectrum.

“That’s basically ‘leave me alone’ and leave my rights alone,” Banville said. “I like the right to abortion. I like my guns and want the government out of my business.”

... “If the system is not profoundly broken, which it is not, then they don’t generally support coming in with wholesale changes,” Banville said.

Abortion as a vital concern is not going away. People get pregnant when they shouldn't/can't have babies. GOPer guys don't get it, but they are threatening women's lives and we fight back.