Abortion rights win in Missouri, Nevada, and Virginia midterm votes

Voters in Missouri, Nevada, and Virginia approved abortion rights measures on Tuesday, preserving or expanding access across red, blue, and purple states, despite the issue playing a smaller role in the midterm campaign. The victories strengthen protections for millions of women and those traveling from restrictive states. The results bring to 14 the number of states where voters have backed abortion rights in referendums since Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022. The sole loss came in Idaho, where a measure challenging one of the nation’s strictest bans failed, with national groups largely avoiding the campaign. Anti-abortion leaders acknowledged "devastating" losses, while advocates note ballot measures have limits, as many ban states lack citizen initiative processes. Missouri lawmakers forced a repeal vote on a 2024 amendment, which failed, highlighting that even constitutional protections can be reopened.