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Over the last two general election cycles the Sunshine State has become reliably red following the past two decades of purple status. Florida supported George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004 followed by Barack Obama the next two cycles. Donald Trump beat Hillary Clinton by a margin of 1.19%. It was the fifth-closest state result, with only Wisconsin, Michigan, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania closer. In 2020, Trump's margin was more decisive in the state thanks in no small part to Miami-Dade County turning red.
But now Florida is back in play thanks to an abortion rights ballot initiative.
It's one of the hot button topics that will draw people to the polls, especially those more inclined to vote for current US President Joe Biden but would otherwise have potentially stayed home.
The Supreme Court in a 5-4 decision overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark ruling that established the constitutional right to abortion.
Since then, ruby red states that have had similar ballot initiatives to that upcoming for Florida - Kansas and Ohio among them - drove a record number of people to the voting booth. Nearly half of Kansas' registered voters turned out in first electoral test of US abortion rights.
Trump, the GOP frontrunner, privately supports a 16-week abortion ban while having also appointed the three Supreme Court judges who voted to overturn Roe vs. Wade.
A Republican-imposed six-week abortion ban is poised to take effect in Florida — but the state's voters will have the opportunity to undo it.
The proposed Florida amendment says “no law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s healthcare provider.” It provides for one exception that is already in the state constitution: Parents must be notified before their minor children can get an abortion.
And if abortion rights is not your cup of tea, maybe marijuana is.
Weed legislation has been another driving force to the polls over the years.
Florida Supreme Court will allow a statewide ballot measure on recreational marijuana and, like the abortion rights initiative, will require at least 60 percent approval.
For now BetOnline only has Senate GOP margin of victory odds up for the state of Florida with the number set at 7.5 percent both priced at -110.
- Gilbert Horowitz, Gambling911.com
