Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has recently received a blow to his political aspirations, and it’s not one that Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee in waiting, will be pleased regarding. DeSantis, who pushed for a draconian six-week abortion ban as part of his presidential campaign, has had his ban approved by the Florida Supreme Court. However, in a surprising turn of events, the court has also ruled that an amendment protecting abortion rights will be on the Florida ballot in November. This opens the door for voters to strike down DeSantis’ ban and might significantly impact voter turnout.
The implications of this decision are significant, particularly for Trump. He now faces three unfavorable choices, none of which work in his favor. He can embrace the six-week ban he previously criticized, alienating his supporters who oppose abortion rights. Alternatively, he can maintain his opposition to the ban, but this would risk losing the support of evangelical voters. Lastly, he might promise to override the six-week state ban with a federal abortion ban at 15 or 16 weeks if he becomes president. However, this move would likely benefit President Biden’s reelection campaign.
Trump’s struggle with this issue is set to continue as the real-world consequences of DeSantis’ ban take effect before the November election. Women in Florida will lose their abortion rights, thanks to Trump’s Supreme Court picks overturning Roe v. Wade and DeSantis’ abortion ban, which was upheld by conservative judges appointed by Trump.
Recent polling data suggests that the
