Florida Democrats are rallying voters with a massive ad blitz urging support for Amendment 4, a proposed state constitutional amendment to guarantee abortion access. For Democrats, this measure is more than a policy issue—it’s a strategic push to reclaim political influence in a state that has turned increasingly red. Leading the charge, Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried described the campaign as a chance to show that Florida is not as conservative as recent years suggest, saying a victory here would demonstrate “a reason to invest in the state.”
The stakes are high. Amendment 4 would need 60% voter approval to pass, a tougher requirement than other recent abortion measures in the U.S. Despite this, Democrats believe they have broad support across party lines. Phillip Jerez, executive director of the Florida Democratic Party, emphasized that this isn’t just a Democratic cause: “We’re doing this not just for Democrats, but independents and Republicans alike.”
Florida’s current six-week abortion ban, signed by GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis, is a key focus of the Democratic ads, which have cost nearly $4.6 million so far. Meanwhile, Republicans have spent roughly $12.6 million on counter-ads, positioning the amendment as a threat to women’s safety. DeSantis’ administration even launched a taxpayer-funded website warning of the amendment’s potential impacts and aired commercials pointing Floridians to the site. However, support for the measure appears substantial across the political spectrum, with Yes on 4 campaign director Lauren Brenzel noting, “The vast majority of Floridians… support women making their own decisions without government interference.”
The campaign faces additional friction from GOP-led state agencies. This week, Floridians Protecting Freedom filed a lawsuit against the Department of Health after it warned TV stations of “criminal penalties” for running Yes on 4 ads. As Florida edges closer to the 2024 elections, Democrats are positioning Amendment 4 as a rallying point, one they hope will signal a shift in Florida’s political landscape.
