Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday applauded the drastic decrease in the number of Florida abortions, prompted by the governor's efforts to enact and keep a six-week ban on the procedure afloat.
Although a majority of Floridians voted to overturn the six-week abortion ban, which took effect in May, it ultimately failed at the ballot box on Election Day. That failure was reflected in new figures published Wednesday by the state health agency, revealing a decline of more than 20,000 abortions in 2024 compared to the previous year — a 28% decrease.
"We've been able to save lives, and that matters to a lot of people," DeSantis said at a Ponte Vedra press conference. "It may not matter to everyone right now, but it matters to me...If you believe in a culture of life, that's a positive indication for sure."
In the months leading up to the election, DeSantis embarked on a statewide campaign tour to kill a proposal that would have overturned his six-week ban and enshrined the right to abortion until 24 weeks in the state constitution. Called Amendment 4, DeSantis enlisted the help of several state agencies and pro-life physicians to lambast the alleged dangers and deception he claimed to be wrought throughout the referendum.
On Nov. 5, it gained 57% of voter approval. Though a majority, this was just short of the 60% needed to pass a constitutional amendment. It was the first proposed amendment in Florida history to surpass six million "yes" votes and still fail.
And now its results are showing.
Per AHCA's data, the statewide total of 60,755 abortions in 2024 was down 28% from 84,052 in 2023, WUFT reported. Florida's largest (and formerly bluest) counties Miami-Dade, Broward, and Hillsborough, each reported more than 20% declines while the biggest plummet was in Dixie County, with a 54% drop.
Amendment 4 was borne from DeSantis pushing a controversial six-week abortion ban bill through the Legislature. The bill, now law, provided exceptions for rape or incest until 15 weeks or at any time to save the woman's life.
In the months after the Florida Supreme Court greenlit the ban in April 2024, the grassroots group Floridians Protecting Freedom gathered over a million signatures to put Amendment 4 on the ballot, where it faced a massive swath of litigation.
"We were able to do something that's made a difference in young people's lives as we'll see as they grow up and have a chance to live the American dream," DeSantis said Friday.
