Kansas votes to preserve Abortion right

Kansas voters on Tuesday rejected an effort to remove abortion protections from the state's constitution, a resounding win for the abortion rights movement in the first statewide electoral test since the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

The amendment's failure in the conservative state lifted Democrats' hopes that the issue of abortion rights will draw voters to the party in November's midterm elections even as they worry about surging inflation.

The result also will prevent Kansas' Republican-led legislature from passing severe abortion restrictions in the state.


"This should be a real wake-up call for abortion opponents," said Neal Allen, a political science professor at Wichita State University.

Political analysts had expected the Kansas amendment to pass, given that Republicans typically turn out in greater numbers for the state's primary elections than Democrats and independents.