GOP FIGHTS BACK – Unborn Rights in FOCUS

Missouri Republicans shamelessly vote to overturn the will of voters by pushing a new abortion ban just six months after citizens enshrined reproductive freedom in the state constitution.

At a Glance

  • Missouri Senate approved House Joint Resolution 73 to put a near-total abortion ban on the November 2026 ballot, overriding voters who just passed abortion protections last year
  • Republicans used a rare procedural move to end a Democratic filibuster, pushing the measure through with a 21-11 vote
  • The proposed amendment would ban most abortions with limited exceptions for rape and incest within the first 12 weeks
  • Protests erupted after the vote, with critics calling it a direct assault on Missouri voters
  • The resolution also aims to protect children from gender transition procedures

Republicans Steamroll Democracy to Force New Abortion Ban

In a stunning display of contempt for their own constituents, Missouri Senate Republicans rammed through House Joint Resolution 73 this week, a measure designed to overturn Amendment 3 – the abortion rights protection that Missouri voters approved just six months ago. Using a rarely deployed procedural maneuver called “previous question” (PQ), GOP lawmakers shut down a Democratic filibuster and forced a vote that passed 21-11. 

The resolution now heads to the November 2026 ballot, where Republicans hope voters will somehow change their minds and support a near-total abortion ban after already voting for reproductive freedom.

The outrageous power grab didn’t sit well with Democratic lawmakers who were effectively silenced by the procedural tactics. The measure passed despite Amendment 3 having been approved by 52% of Missouri voters in November 2024, making it clear that citizens wanted abortion to remain legal in the state. Following the vote, protests erupted in the Senate chamber, which was subsequently cleared by security as citizens expressed their outrage at having their votes effectively nullified. 

Democrats Blast Republican Power Grab

Democratic senators didn’t mince words about the Republican majority’s bulldozing of both proper procedure and voter will. Senate Minority Leader Doug Beck of Affton delivered a scathing assessment of his colleagues’ actions after Republicans pushed through not just the abortion measure but also a separate bill targeting mandatory paid sick leave that voters had previously supported. The Republican-dominated legislature seemingly can’t accept that Missouri voters might actually want policies that don’t align with conservative orthodoxy. 

“They again turned down the will of the Missouri voters. The will of the people, of what they wanted. And, they’ve decided, these 24 Republican Senators, decided that they think what’s best for Missourians. Even though (Missourians) voted for these issues,” said Senate Minority Leader Doug Beck, D-Affton.

Senator Stephen Webber of Columbia didn’t hold back either, highlighting the fundamental disrespect shown by his Republican colleagues. His comments underscored the growing concern that Missouri Republicans view democratic processes as mere inconveniences to be circumvented when voters don’t comply with their agenda. The behavior demonstrates an alarming pattern of elected officials who seem to believe they know better than the citizens who put them in office.

What the Proposed Amendment Would Do

HJR 73 would effectively reinstate a near-total abortion ban in Missouri, with limited exceptions for rape and incest within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. The measure would replace the recently passed Amendment 3, which enshrined abortion rights in the state constitution. Prior to Amendment 3’s passage, Missouri had one of the strictest abortion bans in the nation, allowing the procedure only in cases of medical emergency, effectively making abortion inaccessible for most women in the state. 

“The Republicans don’t respect their fellow Senators. They don’t respect the voters. They don’t respect the process. They don’t respect the institution,” said Sen. Stephen Webber, D-Columbia. 

In an interesting twist that reveals the true conservative agenda, the amendment would also include protections for children from cross-sex hormones and transgender surgeries. Republicans are clearly bundling multiple conservative priorities into one package, betting that Missouri voters might be willing to accept abortion restrictions if they come with other measures. Senate President Pro-Tem Cindy O’Laughlin emphasized the session’s focus on delivering “conservative results,” which apparently means ignoring what voters explicitly said they wanted just months ago.

A Battle Brewing for 2026

Despite the legislative maneuvers, abortion rights advocates are already mobilizing for the coming battle. Planned Parenthood and other organizations have condemned HJR 73 as a direct assault on Missouri voters and their clearly expressed preferences. Emily Wales, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes, issued a defiant statement following the vote, reminding Republicans that Missourians have already spoken on this issue and will likely do so again. 

“Abortion rights won in this state six months ago, and mark my words: Missourians will protect reproductive freedom again,” stated Emily Wales, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes. 

Meanwhile, anti-abortion groups like Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America have praised the resolution, framing it as a measure to protect lives and parental rights. Their president, Marjorie Dannenfelser, urged Republican leaders statewide to vocally support the measure, seemingly confident that voters can be persuaded to change their minds by 2026. But with abortion rights consistently winning at the ballot box nationwide since the fall of Roe v. Wade, even in conservative states, the path to victory for abortion opponents appears increasingly uncertain.

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