Login
Login

2024 Maryland Question 1

{{Short description|Voter referendum}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}

{{Infobox referendum

| country = Maryland

| name = 2024 Maryland Question 1

| title = Declaration of Rights - Right to Reproductive Freedom

| date = November 5, 2024

| yes = 2,199,319

| no = 692,219

| total = 2,891,538

| electorate = 4,204,572

| turnoutpct = 72.84

| notes = Source: [https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2024/General_Results/gen_detail_qresults_2024_1_1.html Maryland State Board of Elections]

| map = {{switcher

|300px

|County results

|300px

|Congressional district results

|300px

|Legislative district results

|300px

|Precinct results

|default=1}}

| map_size = 300px

| mapcaption =

{{col-begin}}

{{col-3}}

Yes

{{legend|#2B2457|90–100% |border=1px #AAAAAA solid}}

{{legend|#28497C|80–90% |border=1px #AAAAAA solid}}

{{legend|#47729E|70–80% |border=1px #AAAAAA solid}}

{{legend|#7D9CBB|60–70% |border=1px #AAAAAA solid}}

{{legend|#B6C8D9|50–60% |border=1px #AAAAAA solid}}

{{col-3}}

No

{{legend|#BCBC83|60–70% |border=1px #AAAAAA solid}}

{{legend|#DEDEBD|50–60% |border=1px #AAAAAA solid}}

{{col-3}}

Other

{{legend|#EBEEED|Tie |border=1px #AAAAAA solid}}

{{legend|#808080|No votes |border=1px #AAAAAA solid}}

{{col-end}}

}}

{{ElectionsMD}}

The 2024 Maryland Question 1 was a voter referendum that appeared on the ballot on November 5, 2024. It established in the Constitution of Maryland a right to reproductive freedom. The referendum was approved overwhelmingly, with more than three times as many voters voting in favor of it than against it, and only losing in Garrett County.

Ballot measure

The ballot measure reads as follows:{{cite web |last1=Lee |first1=Susan C. |author1-link=Susan C. Lee |title=Ballot Language Certification |url=https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2024/Ballot%20Language%20Certification%202024%20Question%201.pdf |publisher=Office of the Maryland Secretary of State |access-date=July 30, 2024 |date=July 17, 2024}}

{{blockquote|Question 1
Constitutional Amendment}}

{{blockquote|The proposed amendment confirms an individual's fundamental right to reproductive freedom, including, but not limited to, the ability to make and effectuate decisions to prevent, continue, or end the individual's pregnancy, and provides that the State may not, directly or indirectly, deny, burden, or abridge the right, unless justified by a compelling State interest achieved by the least restrictive means.}}

The choices read as follows:

{{blockquote|For the Constitutional Amendment
Against the Constitutional Amendment}}

History

In 1992, Maryland voters approved Question 6, which upheld a state law to codify Roe v. Wade and guaranteed the right to an abortion, with 62 percent of voters approving the measure and 38 percent opposed.{{cite news |last1=Tapscott |first1=Richard |title=Md. back measure on abortion rights |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1992/11/04/md-backs-measure-on-abortion-rights/cb000417-7fed-430a-be69-79203fcd2de2/ |access-date=November 13, 2023 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=November 4, 1992}}

In August 2018, Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates Michael E. Busch endorsed efforts to codify the right to an abortion into the state constitution, citing fears that the U.S. Supreme Court would overturn its ruling in Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, which held that the U.S. Constitution protected a woman's right to have an abortion.{{cite news |last1=Cox |first1=Erin |title=With fate of U.S. abortion rights unclear, Md. House speaker aims to strengthen state protections |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/maryland-house-speaker-to-push-for-amendment-protecting-abortion-rights/2018/08/01/435dd6d8-95d5-11e8-80e1-00e80e1fdf43_story.html |access-date=November 13, 2023 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=August 3, 2018}}{{cite news |last1=Hellmann |first1=Jessie |title=Maryland House speaker pushes to protect abortion access in state constitution |url=https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/400062-maryland-house-speaker-to-push-for-constitutional-amendment-protecting/ |access-date=November 13, 2023 |work=The Hill |date=August 2, 2018}} Republican Governor Larry Hogan, who personally opposes abortion, expressed support for the measure, but also questioned if a constitutional amendment to codify abortion protections was necessary.{{cite news |last1=Dresser |first1=Michael |title=Maryland Democrats call for state constitutional amendment to guarantee abortion rights |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-md-democrats-abortion-20180802-story.html |access-date=November 13, 2023 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=2 August 2018}} During the 2019 legislative session, Busch introduced legislation to create a 2020 referendum on enshrining abortion protects into the state constitution, but he withdrew it early into the session after Senate President Thomas V. Miller Jr. said he was reluctant to move it forward, following protests against late-term abortion bills in New York and Virginia.{{cite news |last1=Wiggins |first1=Ovetta |title=Maryland House speaker to withdraw bill to enshrine abortion protections |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/maryland-house-speaker-to-withdraw-bill-to-enshrine-abortion-protections/2019/02/23/32923542-35da-11e9-854a-7a14d7fec96a_story.html |access-date=November 13, 2023 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=February 23, 2019}}

In May 2019, following the election of Adrienne A. Jones as House Speaker, and after the Alabama General Assembly passed the Human Life Protection Act, Jones said she would continue Busch's efforts to enshrine abortion protection into the state constitution.{{cite news |last1=Witte |first1=Brian |title=New Maryland speaker says she'll likely push to protect abortion rights |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/anne-arundel/ac-cn-ap-jones-abortion-20190517-story.html |access-date=November 13, 2023 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=May 17, 2019}} As the Supreme Court began considering Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization in 2022, she introduced legislation to create a referendum on codifying abortion rights,{{cite news |last1=Gaskill |first1=Hannah |title=Jones Seeks Constitutional Amendment to Strengthen Abortion Rights in Maryland |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2022/02/14/jones-seeks-constitutional-amendment-to-strengthen-abortion-rights-in-maryland/ |access-date=November 13, 2023 |work=Maryland Matters |date=February 15, 2022}} which passed the Maryland House of Delegates by a 93–42 vote,{{cite news |last1=Stole |first1=Bryn |title=Maryland House votes to add abortion rights to state constitution, expand access to abortion |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-md-pol-house-abortion-20220312-qrfclvsoibbe3i5nsimo2iee6u-story.html |access-date=November 13, 2023 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=March 11, 2022}}{{cite news |last1=Gaskill |first1=Hannah |title=After Republican Amendment Attempts, House Moves Forward with Abortion Access Bills |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2022/03/09/after-republican-amendment-attempts-house-moves-forward-with-abortion-access-bills/ |access-date=November 13, 2023 |work=Maryland Matters |date=March 10, 2022}} but the bill died in the Maryland Senate after Senate President Bill Ferguson declined to put it up for a vote.{{cite news |last1=Gaskill |first1=Hannah |title=Legislative Roundup: Single Abortion Bill Advances in Senate, Hogan Keeps the Money Flowing, Plus Caucus News |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2022/03/25/legislative-roundup-abortion-bill-advances-hogan-keeps-the-money-flowing-plus-caucus-news/ |access-date=November 13, 2023 |work=Maryland Matters |date=March 26, 2022}} The legislature also passed the Abortion Care Access Act, which provided $3.5 million toward clinical training for reproductive services, which became law after lawmakers overrode Governor Hogan's veto on the bill.{{cite news |last1=Gaines |first1=Danielle E. |title=With Legislative Overrides, Paid Leave and Abortion Access Bills Become Law in Maryland |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2022/04/09/with-legislative-overrides-paid-leave-and-abortion-access-bills-become-law-in-maryland/ |access-date=November 13, 2023 |work=Maryland Matters |date=April 9, 2022}}

In June 2022, after the Supreme Court ruled in Dobbs, and overturned Roe and Casey, Jones committed to re-introducing the bill during the 2023 legislative session. The court's ruling also made relevant the issue of abortion in the 2022 Maryland gubernatorial election, with all Democratic candidates promising to support Jones' measure; Republican candidate Kelly Schulz said that she was "personally pro-life", but would not change "current Maryland law" toward abortion if elected governor, while her challenger, far-right state delegate Dan Cox, celebrated the Dobbs decision and vowed to end taxpayer funding for abortions as governor.{{cite news |last1=Gaskill |first1=Hannah |last2=Janesch |first2=Sam |title=Some Maryland politicians, candidates for governor vow to strengthen state abortion laws in wake of Roe decision |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-md-pol-abortion-political-reaction-20220624-tdspy62ngne3jawjljcaiovv2e-story.html |access-date=November 13, 2023 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=June 24, 2022}}

File:Press Conference (52678311727).jpg

During the 2023 legislative session, Jones again introduced legislation to enshrine abortion protections into the state constitution,{{cite news |last1=Zorzi |first1=William F. |title=General Assembly will consider bills to enshrine reproductive rights in the Maryland Constitution |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2023/02/07/general-assembly-will-consider-bills-to-enshrine-reproductive-rights-in-the-state-consitution/ |access-date=November 13, 2023 |work=Maryland Matters |date=February 7, 2023}} which passed, and was signed into law by Governor Wes Moore, along with a package of bills to protect patients who come to Maryland seeking abortion rights from out-of-state criminal prosecution.{{cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Danielle J. |title=Moore declares Maryland a 'safe haven' for abortion access; approves protections for trans health care |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2023/05/03/moore-declares-maryland-a-safe-haven-for-abortion-access-approves-protections-for-trans-health-care/ |access-date=November 13, 2023 |work=Maryland Matters |date=May 3, 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Gaskill |first1=Hannah |title=Gov. Wes Moore signs bills ensuring health care access for women, transgender Marylanders |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-md-pol-moore-abortion-bills-20230503-yw3vpfitdndpjplhvgyyhdbujy-story.html |access-date=November 13, 2023 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=May 3, 2023}}

= House vote =

The amendment was approved by the House on March 10, 2023, with 99 yeas, 37 nays, and 4 absent delegates.{{cite web |title=Voting Report - HB705 |url=https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2023RS/votes/house/0290.pdf |publisher=Maryland General Assembly |access-date=April 12, 2024 |date=March 10, 2023}} Before the vote, Republicans unsuccessfully sought to amend the bill, with state delegate William J. Wivell introducing two amendments to give constitutional protections to the "preborn" and another replacing the phrase "reproductive freedom" with "abortion", and state delegate April Fleming Miller introducing an amendment replacing the word "person" with "woman"; all three amendments were defeated in party-line votes.{{cite news |last1=Sears |first1=Bryan P. |title=Abortion rights amendment to state constitution clears hurdle in the House |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2023/03/08/abortion-amendment-to-state-constitution-clears-hurdle-in-the-house-of-delegates/ |access-date=April 26, 2024 |work=Maryland Matters |date=March 8, 2023}}

[[File:2024 Maryland abortion referendum house vote.svg|thumb|250px|Map of the vote

{{legend|#92C5DE|Democratic yea (99)}}

{{legend|#B9B9DB|Democratic absentees (2)}}

{{legend|#CA0120|Republican nay (37)}}

{{legend|#E9AFAF|Republican absentees (2)}}

{{legend|#CCCCCC|Vacant seat (1)}}

]]

class="wikitable" style="width:50%;"

|+ House of Delegates

colspan="2" | Party

! style="width:20%;" | Votes for

! style="width:20%;" | Votes against

! style="width:20%;" | Absent

{{party name with colour|Democratic Party (United States)}} (102)

| style="background-color:#9f9;" | {{collapsible list |style="background-color:#CCFFCC;" |title= 99

|1=Gabriel Acevero

|2=Jackie Addison

|3=Nick Allen

|4=Tiffany Alston

|5=Marlon Amprey

|6=Dalya Attar

|7=Vanessa Atterbeary

|8=Heather Bagnall

|9=Ben Barnes

|10=Darryl Barnes

|11=J. Sandy Bartlett

|12=Kumar Barve

|13=Harry Bhandari

|14=Adrian Boafo

|15=Regina T. Boyce

|16=Tony Bridges

|17=Jon Cardin

|18=Mark S. Chang

|19=Lorig Charkoudian

|20=Nick Charles

|21=Luke Clippinger

|22=Frank M. Conaway Jr.

|23=Brian M. Crosby

|24=Charlotte Crutchfield

|25=Bonnie Cullison

|26=Debra Davis

|27=Eric Ebersole

|28=Mark Edelson

|29=Elizabeth Embry

|30=Kris Fair

|31=Jessica M. Feldmark

|32=Diana M. Fennell

|33=Linda Foley

|34=Cathi Forbes

|35=David Fraser-Hidalgo

|36=Brooke Grossman

|37=Michele Guyton

|38=Pam Guzzone

|39=Kevin Harris

|40=Andrea Harrison

|41=Anne Healey

|42=Shaneka Henson

|43=Terri Hill

|44=Marvin E. Holmes Jr.

|45=Julian Ivey

|46=Carl W. Jackson

|47=Andre Johnson Jr.

|48=Steven Johnson

|49=Adrienne A. Jones

|50=Dana Jones

|51=Anne Kaiser

|52=Aaron Kaufman

|53=Ken Kerr

|54=Marc Korman

|55=Mary A. Lehman

|56=Jazz Lewis

|57=Robbyn Lewis

|58=Jeffrie Long Jr.

|59=Lesley Lopez

|60=Sara N. Love

|61=Ashanti Martinez

|62=Aletheia McCaskill

|63=Bernice Mireku-North

|64=David Moon

|65=Julie Palakovich Carr

|66=Cheryl Pasteur

|67=Edith J. Patterson

|68=Joseline Peña-Melnyk

|69=N. Scott Phillips

|70=Andrew Pruski

|71=Lily Qi

|72=Pamela Queen

|73=Kirill Reznik

|74=Mike Rogers

|75=Samuel I. Rosenberg

|76=Sheila Ruth

|77=Sheree Sample-Hughes

|78=Emily Shetty

|79=Karen Simpson

|80=Stephanie M. Smith

|81=Jared Solomon

|82=Dana Stein

|83=Vaughn Stewart

|84=Deni Taveras

|85=Kym Taylor

|86=Jennifer Terrasa

|87=Karen Toles

|88=Veronica Turner

|89=Kris Valderrama

|90=Joe Vogel

|91=Courtney Watson

|92=Melissa Wells

|93=Jennifer White Holland

|94=Jheanelle Wilkins

|95=Nicole A. Williams

|96=C. T. Wilson

|97=Jamila Woods

|98=Chao Wu

|99=Natalie Ziegler

}}

| –

| {{collapsible list |style="background-color:#CCFFCC;" |title= 2

|1=Gary Simmons

|2=Caylin Young

}}

{{party name with colour|Republican Party (United States)}} (39)

| –

| style="background-color:#ffaeb9;" | {{collapsible list |style="background-color:#CCFFCC;" |title= 37

|1=Christopher T. Adams

|2=Carl Anderton Jr.

|3=Steven J. Arentz

|4=Lauren Arikan

|5=Terry Baker

|6=Christopher Bouchat

|7=Jason C. Buckel

|8=Brian Chisholm

|9=Barrie Ciliberti

|10=Jefferson L. Ghrist

|11=Robin Grammer Jr.

|12=Mike Griffith

|13=Wayne A. Hartman

|14=Jim Hinebaugh

|15=Kevin Hornberger

|16=Seth A. Howard

|17=Tom Hutchinson

|18=Jay Jacobs

|19=Robert B. Long

|20=Nino Mangione

|21=Susan K. McComas

|22=Ric Metzgar

|23=April Fleming Miller

|24=Matthew Morgan

|25=Todd Morgan

|26=Rachel Muñoz

|27=Ryan Nawrocki

|28=Charles J. Otto

|29=Jesse Pippy

|30=Teresa E. Reilly

|31=April Rose

|32=Stuart Schmidt Jr.

|33=Joshua Stonko

|34=Kathy Szeliga

|35=Chris Tomlinson

|36=William Valentine

|37=William J. Wivell

}}

| {{collapsible list |style="background-color:#CCFFCC;" |title= 2

|1=Mark N. Fisher

|2=Nic Kipke

}}

colspan="2" | Total (140){{efn|At the time of the vote, District 16 had one vacancy.}}

! 99

! 37

! 4

{{Clear}}

= Senate vote =

The amendment was approved by the Senate on March 31, 2023, with 33 yeas and 14 nays.{{cite web |title=Voting Report - HB705 |url=https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2023RS/votes/senate/0778.pdf |publisher=Maryland General Assembly |access-date=April 12, 2024 |date=March 31, 2023}} Republican state senator Bryan Simonaire introduced an amendment to ban abortions after fetal viability, which failed by a vote of 13–33, and another amendment to the Senate crossfile version of the bill that would exclude gender-affirming surgery for minors without parental consent under the bill's definition of reproductive freedom, which was rejected by a vote of 14–32.{{cite news |last1=Gaskill |first1=Hannah |title=Abortion referendum bill advances, would give voters choice in 2024 of enshrining access in state constitution |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2023/03/10/abortion-referendum-bill-advances-would-give-voters-choice-in-2024-of-enshrining-access-in-state-constitution/ |access-date=April 26, 2024 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=March 10, 2023}}

[[File:2024 Maryland abortion referendum senate vote.svg|thumb|250px|Map of the vote

{{legend|#92C5DE|Democratic yea (33)}}

{{legend|#0671B0|Democratic nay (1)}}

{{legend|#CA0120|Republican nay (13)}}

]]

class="wikitable" style="width:50%;"

|+ Senate

colspan="2" | Party

! style="width:20%;" | Votes for

! style="width:20%;" | Votes against

! style="width:20%;" | Abstentions

{{party name with colour|Democratic Party (United States)}} (34)

| style="background-color:#9f9;" | {{collapsible list |style="background-color:#CCFFCC;" |title= 33

|1=Malcolm Augustine

|2=Pamela Beidle

|3=Joanne C. Benson

|4=Benjamin Brooks

|5=Jill P. Carter

|6=Sarah Elfreth

|7=Arthur Ellis

|8=Brian Feldman

|9=Bill Ferguson

|10=Dawn Gile

|11=Melony G. Griffith

|12=Guy Guzzone

|13=Antonio Hayes

|14=Katie Fry Hester

|15=Shelly L. Hettleman

|16=Mary-Dulany James

|17=Cheryl Kagan

|18=Ariana Kelly

|19=Nancy J. King

|20=Kathy Klausmeier

|21=Benjamin F. Kramer

|22=Clarence Lam

|23=Karen Lewis Young

|24=Cory McCray

|25=C. Anthony Muse

|26=James Rosapepe

|27=William C. Smith Jr.

|28=Charles E. Sydnor III

|29=Jeff Waldstreicher

|30=Alonzo T. Washington

|31=Mary L. Washington

|32=Ron Watson

|33=Craig Zucker

}}

| {{collapsible list |style="background-color:#CCFFCC;" |title= 1

|1=Michael Jackson

}}

| –

{{party name with colour|Republican Party (United States)}} (13)

| –

| style="background-color:#ffaeb9;" | {{collapsible list |style="background-color:#CCFFCC;" |title= 13

|1=Jack Bailey

|2=Mary Beth Carozza

|3=Paul D. Corderman

|4=William Folden

|5=Jason C. Gallion

|6=Stephen S. Hershey Jr.

|7=J. B. Jennings

|8=Johnny Mautz

|9=Mike McKay

|10=Justin Ready

|11=Johnny Ray Salling

|12=Bryan Simonaire

|13=Chris West

}}

| –

colspan="2" | Total (47)

! 33

! 14

! 0

{{Clear}}

Campaign

Question 1 was supported by Freedom in Reproduction — Maryland, which was made up of leaders from organizations including Planned Parenthood Maryland, the Baltimore Abortion Fund, and the Women's Law Center of Maryland. It was opposed by Health Not Harm MD, which was chaired by Deborah Brocato, a lobbyist for Maryland Right to Life.{{cite news |last1=Witte |first1=Brian |title=Abortion rights supporters launch campaign for Maryland constitutional amendment |url=https://apnews.com/article/abortion-maryland-constitutional-amendment-66a9c900d1b553e836e4b94cd3f32ae4 |access-date=January 22, 2024 |work=Associated Press |date=January 22, 2024 |language=en}} After President Joe Biden withdrew from the 2024 United States presidential election, supporters of Question 1 reported an increase in people interested in volunteering for efforts to support the ballot initiative.{{cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Danielle J. |title=Will Harris' candidacy affect Maryland's reproductive freedom referendum? |url=https://marylandmatters.org/2024/08/07/will-harris-candidacy-affect-marylands-reproductive-freedom-referendum/ |access-date=August 8, 2024 |work=Maryland Matters |date=August 8, 2024}} As of October 2024, pro-Question 1 groups have outraised and outspent the referendum's opponents 5-to-1.{{cite news |last=Janesch |first=Sam |title=Abortion rights group outraises opponents, spends big on ad campaign supporting Maryland ballot question |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/10/15/abortion-rights-group-outraises-opponents/ |work=The Baltimore Sun |access-date=October 16, 2024 |date=October 16, 2024}}

Abortion access is widely popular in Maryland, and, as such, an intense campaign focused on Question 1 similar to the one advocates faced in 1992 was considered to be unlikely. The amendment's opponents claimed that its passage would allow children to receive gender-affirming care without their parents' consent; the amendment's supporters, including former Maryland First Lady Katie O'Malley, have called this a misinterpretation of the amendment's language, saying that it would only apply to issues like abortion, birth control, and In vitro fertilisation.

The issue of abortion became a key issue in the concurrent 2024 United States Senate election in Maryland, in which Democratic nominee Angela Alsobrooks heavily criticized Republican nominee Larry Hogan for his 2022 veto of the Abortion Care Access Act. Despite this, both candidates said they would vote for Question 1.

=Endorsements=

{{Endorsements box|title=Yes|width=50em|list=

U.S. Executive Branch officials

U.S. Senators

  • Chris Van Hollen, Maryland (2017–present) ({{font color||#CEE0F2|Democrat}})

U.S. Representatives

  • Jamie Raskin, {{ushr|MD|8|MD-08}} (2017–present) ({{font color||#CEE0F2|Democrat}})

Statewide elected officials

  • Peter Franchot, 33rd Comptroller of Maryland (2007–2023) ({{font color||#CEE0F2|Democrat}})
  • Doug Gansler, 45th Attorney General of Maryland (2007–2015) ({{font color||#CEE0F2|Democrat}})
  • Larry Hogan, 62nd Governor of Maryland (2015–2023) ({{font color||#FFE6E6|Republican}}){{cite news |last1=Broadwater |first1=Luke |title=Hogan Backs Codifying Roe, Tacking Left on Abortion Ahead of a Tough Race

|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/16/us/politics/larry-hogan-abortion-roe-v-wade.html |access-date=May 16, 2024 |work=New York Times |date=May 16, 2024 |language=en |quote=also said he would vote to enshrine abortion rights in the state’s Constitution, a measure that will be on the ballot in November}}

  • Brooke Lierman, 34th Comptroller of Maryland (2023–present) ({{font color||#CEE0F2|Democrat}}){{cite news |last1=Gaskill |first1=Hannah |title=Maryland Board of Public Works approves procurement of thousands of doses of abortion medication |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-md-pol-bpw-mifepristone-approval-20230607-uj2q2mlin5g6labgz47zx3lo2e-story.html |access-date=November 13, 2023 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=June 7, 2023}}
  • Aruna Miller, 10th Lieutenant Governor of Maryland (2023–present) ({{font color||#CEE0F2|Democrat}})
  • Wes Moore, 63rd Governor of Maryland (2023–present) ({{font color||#CEE0F2|Democrat}}){{cite news |last1=Morton |first1=Greg |last2=Thompson |first2=Kara |title=Moore, Miller, legislative Democrats announce legislation protecting abortion rights |url=https://cnsmaryland.org/2023/02/09/moore-miller-legislative-democrats-announce-legislation-protecting-abortion-rights/ |access-date=November 13, 2023 |work=Capital News Service |date=February 9, 2023}}

State senators

  • Bill Ferguson, 86th President of the Maryland Senate (2020–present) from the 46th district (2011–present) ({{font color||#CEE0F2|Democrat}})
  • Dawn Gile, state senator from the 33rd district (2023–present) ({{font color||#CEE0F2|Democrat}}){{cite news |last1=Gaskill |first1=Hannah |title=Abortion referendum bill advances, would give voters choice in 2024 of enshrining access in state constitution |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-md-pol-abortion-amendment-house-senate-floor-20230310-tfmipemxjngdlarwdlkfabwmxu-story.html |access-date=November 13, 2023 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=March 10, 2023}}
  • Don Harmon, President of the Illinois Senate (2020–present) from the 39th district (2003–present) ({{font color||#CEE0F2|Democrat}}){{cite news |last1=Kurtz |first1=Josh |title=Marylanders take fight for constitutional amendment on abortion to DNC |url=https://marylandmatters.org/2024/08/19/marylanders-take-fight-for-constitutional-amendment-on-abortion-to-dnc/ |access-date=August 20, 2024 |work=Maryland Matters |date=August 20, 2024}}
  • Shelly Hettleman, state senator from the 11th district (2020–present) ({{font color||#CEE0F2|Democrat}}){{cite news |last1=Collins |first1=David |title=Package of abortion bills in Maryland includes constitutional amendment |url=https://www.wbaltv.com/article/maryland-abortion-bills-constitutional-amendment-2023/42815699 |access-date=November 13, 2023 |work=WBAL-TV |date=February 9, 2023 |language=en}}
  • Dana Jones, state delegate from district 30A (2020–present) ({{font color||#CEE0F2|Democrat}}){{cite news |last1=Kurtz |first1=Josh |title=One night, two sites, two big Democratic fundraisers in Maryland |url=https://marylandmatters.org/briefs/one-night-two-sites-two-big-democratic-fundraisers-in-maryland/ |access-date=October 14, 2024 |work=Maryland Matters |date=October 14, 2024}}
  • Ariana Kelly, state senator from the 16th district (2023–2024) ({{font color||#CEE0F2|Democrat}})
  • Jeff Waldstreicher, state senator from the 18th district (2019–present) ({{font color||#CEE0F2|Democrat}})
  • Mary L. Washington, state senator from the 43rd district (2019–present) ({{font color||#CEE0F2|Democrat}}){{cite news |last1=Gaskill |first1=Hannah |title=Baltimore Women's March advocates enshrining reproductive rights in state constitution |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/09/18/baltimore-womens-march-advocates-reproductive-rights/ |access-date=September 18, 2024 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=September 18, 2024}}

State delegates

  • Adrienne A. Jones, Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates (2019–present) from the 10th district (2007–present) ({{font color||#CEE0F2|Democrat}})
  • Joseline Peña-Melnyk, state delegate from the 21st district (2007–present) ({{font color||#CEE0F2|Democrat}}){{cite news |last1=Bush |first1=Matt |title=2024 Voter referendum on abortion rights gets first OK in Maryland General Assembly |url=https://www.wypr.org/wypr-news/2023-03-08/2024-voter-referendum-on-abortion-rights-gets-first-ok-in-maryland-general-assembly |access-date=November 13, 2023 |work=WYPR |date=March 8, 2023 |language=en}}
  • Lily Qi, state delegate from the 15th district (2019–present) ({{font color||#CEE0F2|Democrat}})
  • Samuel I. Rosenberg, state delegate from the 41st district (1983–present) ({{font color||#CEE0F2|Democrat}})

County officials

  • All 11 members of the Montgomery County Council ({{font color||#CEE0F2|Democrat}}){{cite news |last1=Bixby |first1=Ginny |title=Sparks fly among activists, protesters following County Council approval of reproductive healthcare resolution |url=https://moco360.media/2024/09/10/sparks-fly-among-activists-protesters-following-county-council-approval-of-reproductive-healthcare-resolution/ |access-date=September 10, 2024 |work=MoCo360 |date=September 10, 2024}}
  • Angela Alsobrooks, Prince George's County Executive (2018–present) ({{font color||#CEE0F2|Democrat}}){{cite news |last1=Hollingsworth |first1=Catherine |last2=Newby |first2=Tori |title=A look at local issues in the Maryland U.S. Senate race |url=https://bowiesun.com/g/bowie-md/n/255058/look-local-issues-senate-campaigns |access-date=June 7, 2024 |work=The Bowie Sun |date=June 6, 2024 |language=en}}
  • Marc Elrich, Montgomery County Executive (2018–present) ({{font color||#CEE0F2|Democrat}}){{cite news |last1=Bixby |first1=Ginny |title=County faith leaders urge support for reproductive health care ballot question |url=https://moco360.media/2024/10/30/county-faith-leaders-urge-support-for-reproductive-health-care-ballot-question/ |access-date=October 30, 2024 |work=MoCo360 |date=October 30, 2024}}
  • Johnny Olszewski, Baltimore County Executive (2018–present) ({{font color||#CEE0F2|Democrat}})

Municipal officials

Party officials

Individuals

  • Dawn Moore, First Lady of Maryland (2023–present) ({{font color||#CEE0F2|Democrat}}){{cite news |last1=Wood |first1=Pamela |title=Advocates for reproductive choice kick off campaign for 2024 ballot question |url=https://www.thebaltimorebanner.com/politics-power/state-government/advocates-for-reproductive-choice-kick-off-campaign-for-2024-ballot-question-6HTSMZYKINGYFMWBKMUZJ77LQ4/ |access-date=January 22, 2024 |work=Baltimore Banner |date=January 22, 2024 |language=en}}
  • Katie O'Malley, First Lady of Maryland (2007–2015) ({{font color||#CEE0F2|Democrat}})
  • Mini Timmaraju, president of Reproductive Freedom for All (2021–present){{cite news |title=Democratic Convention Notebook: Raskin's mustard, Colbert in town |url=https://marylandreporter.com/2024/08/23/democratic-convention-notebook-raskins-mustard-colbert-in-town/ |access-date=September 9, 2024 |work=Capital News Service |publisher=MarylandReporter.com |date=August 23, 2024}}

Organizations

  • Freedom From Religion Foundation{{cite web |title=FFRF Action Fund grants support for 11 pro-abortion state referenda |url=https://ffrfaction.org/ffrf-action-fund-grants-support-for-11-pro-abortion-state-referenda/ |website=ffrfaction.org |access-date=October 13, 2024 |date=September 24, 2024}}
  • Maryland State Education Association{{cite press release |title=MSEA Delegates Vote to Take Position of Support on the Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment |url=https://marylandeducators.org/msea-delegates-vote-to-take-position-of-support-on-the-right-to-reproductive-freedom-amendment/ |access-date=May 21, 2024 |work=Maryland State Education Association |date=April 22, 2024}}
  • Planned Parenthood of Maryland{{cite news |last1=McCausland |first1=Christianna |title=Planned Parenthood of Maryland Battles New Threats to Reproductive Health Care |url=https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/section/health/planned-parenthood-maryland-battles-new-threats-to-reproductive-health-care-one-year-after-roe-overturn/ |access-date=November 13, 2023 |work=Baltimore Magazine |date=June 4, 2023}}
  • Reproductive Freedom for All{{Cite tweet |author=Reproductive Freedom for All |user=reproforall |number=1833159453731893536 |date=September 9, 2024 |title=This weekend @mintimm joined @mocowdc to #mobilizeMD for reproductive freedom! Thank you @jamie_raskin, @AlsobrooksForMD, @BrookeELierman, @April4Congress, Liliana Katz-Hollander and Tazeen Ahmad for fighting for @mdreprofreedom and Marylanders' right to abortion. #VoteYeson1 |language=en |access-date=September 9, 2024}}

}}

{{Endorsements box|title=No|width=50em|list=

State senators

  • Mary Beth Carozza, state senator from the 38th district (2019–present) ({{font color||#FFE6E6|Republican}}){{cite news |title=Maryland voters to see reproductive rights on 2024 ballot |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2023/03/30/maryland-voters-to-see-reproductive-rights-on-2024-ballot/ |access-date=November 13, 2023 |work=Maryland Matters |date=March 31, 2023}}
  • Stephen S. Hershey Jr., Minority Leader of the Maryland Senate (2023–present) from the 36th district (2013–present) ({{font color||#FFE6E6|Republican}}){{cite news |last1=Ford |first1=William J. |title=Senate committee considers constitutional amendment on abortion rights a year after measure stalled in chamber |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2023/03/02/senate-committee-considers-constitutional-amendment-on-abortion-rights-a-year-after-measure-stalled-in-chamber/ |access-date=November 13, 2023 |work=Maryland Matters |date=March 2, 2023}}
  • Justin Ready, state senator from the 5th district (2019–present) ({{font color||#FFE6E6|Republican}})
  • Bryan Simonaire, state senator from the 31st district (2007–present) ({{font color||#FFE6E6|Republican}})

State delegates

  • Lauren Arikan, state delegate from district 7B (2019–present) ({{font color||#FFE6E6|Republican}})
  • Terry Baker, state delegate from district 1C (2023–present) ({{font color||#FFE6E6|Republican}})
  • Jason C. Buckel, Minority Leader of the Maryland House of Delegates (2021–present) from district 1B (2015–present) ({{font color||#FFE6E6|Republican}})
  • Dan Cox, state delegate from the 4th district (2019–2023) ({{font color||#FFE6E6|Republican}})
  • Richard Impallaria, state delegate from the 7th district (2003–2023) ({{font color||#FFE6E6|Republican}})
  • Ryan Nawrocki, state delegate from district 7A (2023–present) ({{font color||#FFE6E6|Republican}})
  • Neil Parrott, state delegate from district 2A (2011–2023) ({{font color||#FFE6E6|Republican}}){{cite news |last1=Bixby |first1=Ginny |title=Race for GOP nomination heats up at Maryland 6th Congressional District forum |url=https://moco360.media/2024/02/19/race-for-gop-nomination-heats-up-at-maryland-6th-congressional-district-forum/ |access-date=February 19, 2024 |work=MoCo360 |date=February 19, 2024}}
  • Teresa Reilly, state delegate from district 35A (2019–present) ({{font color||#FFE6E6|Republican}})
  • April Rose, state delegate from the 5th district (2019–present) ({{font color||#FFE6E6|Republican}}){{cite news |last1=Gaskill |first1=Hannah |title=Gov. Wes Moore signs bills ensuring health care access for women, transgender Marylanders |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-md-pol-moore-abortion-bills-20230503-yw3vpfitdndpjplhvgyyhdbujy-story.html |access-date=November 13, 2023 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=May 3, 2023}}
  • Kathy Szeliga, state delegate from district 7A (2011–present) ({{font color||#FFE6E6|Republican}})

Individuals

  • Wilton Daniel Gregory, archbishop of the Archdiocese of Washington{{cite news |last1=Gregory |first1=Wilton |last2=Lori |first2=William |last3=Koenig |first3=William |title='Protect Women: Vote No' – a message from the Catholic bishops of Maryland |url=https://www.cathstan.org/local/protect-women-vote-no-a-message-from-the-catholic-bishops-of-maryland |access-date=May 9, 2024 |work=Catholic Standard |date=May 8, 2024}}
  • William Edward Koenig, bishop of the Diocese of Wilmington
  • William E. Lori, archbishop of the Archdiocese of Baltimore
  • Gloria Purvis, Catholic pro-life activist{{cite news |last1=Matysek |first1=George P. Jr. |title=More than 1,000 stand up for life at Maryland March for Life |url=https://catholicreview.org/more-than-1000-stand-up-for-life-at-maryland-march-for-life/ |access-date=November 13, 2023 |work=Catholic Review |date=February 28, 2023}}

Organizations

  • Democrats for Life of Maryland{{cite news |last1=Ford |first1=William J. |title=Senate committee considers constitutional amendment on abortion rights a year after measure stalled in chamber |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2023/03/02/senate-committee-considers-constitutional-amendment-on-abortion-rights-a-year-after-measure-stalled-in-chamber/ |access-date=November 13, 2023 |work=Maryland Matters |date=March 2, 2023}}
  • Maryland Family Institute{{cite news |last1=Conrad |first1=Brooke |title=Maryland abortion-rights opponents say amendment is "Trojan horse"; supporters say passage is critical |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/06/14/maryland-abortion-amendment-opponents/ |access-date=June 14, 2024 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=June 14, 2024}}
  • Maryland Right to Life{{cite news |last1=Gaskill |first1=Hannah |title=Maryland voters expected to decide abortion access question on 2024 ballot |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-md-pol-abortion-ballot-2024-20230330-vczwrwqi4nez7gvcvmtn23yuey-story.html |access-date=November 13, 2023 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=March 30, 2023}}

}}

Opinion polls

class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;text-align:center;"
valign=bottom

! Poll source

! Date(s)
administered

! Sample
size{{efn|name=key|Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear}}

! Margin
of error

! style="width:100px;"| For

! style="width:100px;"| Against

! Other/
Undecided

style="text-align:left;"|YouGov{{cite web |title=UMD APAN Oct 2024 Poll Survey Topline |url=https://docs.google.com/document/d/1o-WON0pQbyN8-fi5K5OaKblwuYKHqPHcX0P0aak50Dk/edit?tab=t.0 |publisher=University of Maryland Applied Political Analytics Program |access-date=November 3, 2024 |date=November 1, 2024}}{{efn|Poll sponsored by the University of Maryland, College Park.}}

|October 23–27, 2024

|500 (LV)

|± 5.2%

|style="background: rgb(1,223,116);"|75%

|18%

|7%{{efn|1% with "Would not vote on this ballot measure"}}

style="text-align:left;"|University of Maryland, Baltimore County{{cite web |title=UMBC Poll |url=https://politics.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/778/2024/10/UMBC-Poll-October-9-2024-FINAL.pdf |website=politics.umbc.edu |publisher=University of Maryland, Baltimore County |access-date=October 9, 2024}}

|September 23–28, 2024

|862 (LV)

|± 3.3%

|style="background: rgb(1,223,116);"|69%

|21%

|10%

style="text-align:left;"|OpinionWorks{{cite web | url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/elections/bs-md-pol-abortion-sun-poll-20221101-taykz6ytufhkzpzqdlqhywnlq4-story.html | title=Sun/UB Poll: Marylanders favor state constitutional amendment to strengthen abortion rights | date=3 November 2022 }}

|October 20–23, 2022

|982 (LV)

|± 3.1%

|style="background: rgb(1,223,116);"|71%

|19%

|11%

style="text-align:left;"|University of Marylandhttps://docs-cdn-prod.news-engineering.aws.wapo.pub/publish_document/5da75237-c1ab-4efe-9e18-a3d5f13ffb8d/published/5da75237-c1ab-4efe-9e18-a3d5f13ffb8d.pdf

|September 22–27, 2022

|810 (RV)

|± 4.0%

|style="background: rgb(1,223,116);"|78%

|16%

|5%

Results

{{Referendum

| title = 2024 Maryland Question 1

| yes = 2,199,319

| yes% = 76.06

| no = 692,219

| no% = 23.94

| total = 2,891,538

}}

Source: Maryland State Board of Elections{{cite web |title=Unofficial 2024 Presidential General Election Results for All State Questions |url=https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2024/General_Results/gen_qresults_2024_1_00_ALL.html |website=elections.maryland.gov |publisher=Maryland State Board of Elections |access-date=October 24, 2024}}{{cite web |title=Unofficial 2024 Presidential General Election turnout |url=https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2024/Unofficial%20turnout%20PG24.pdf |publisher=Maryland State Board of Elections |access-date=November 20, 2024}}

= By county =

{{collapse top|1=By county|left=yes|bg=#B0CEFF;line-height:135%;|border=none}}

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"

|+Breakdown of voting by county{{cite web |title=Unofficial 2024 Presidential General Election Results for Question 1 |url=https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2024/General_Results/gen_detail_qresults_2024_1_1.html |website=elections.maryland.gov |publisher=Maryland State Board of Elections |access-date=October 24, 2024}}

style="background:lightgrey;"

! rowspan="2"|County

! colspan="2"|Yes

! colspan="2"|No

! colspan="2"|Margin

! rowspan="2 |TotalVotes

#

!%

!#

!%

!#

!%

style="text-align:center"|Allegany

| 16,783

| 55.19%

| 13,625

| 44.81%

| 3,158

| 10.39%

| 30,408

style="text-align:center"|Anne Arundel

| 216,940

| 72.89%

| 80,683

| 27.11%

| 136,257

| 45.78%

| 297,623

style="text-align:center"|Baltimore City

| 188,398

| 86.50%

| 29,407

| 13.50%

| 158,991

| 73.00%

| 217,805

style="text-align:center"|Baltimore

| 300,431

| 76.56%

| 91,985

| 23.44%

| 208,446

| 53.12%

| 392,416

style="text-align:center"|Calvert

| 33,783

| 65.62%

| 17,700

| 34.38%

| 16,083

| 31.24%

| 51,483

style="text-align:center"|Caroline

| 9,300

| 59.65%

| 6,290

| 40.35%

| 3,010

| 19.31%

| 15,590

style="text-align:center"|Carroll

| 59,926

| 60.70%

| 38,793

| 39.30%

| 21,133

| 21.41%

| 98,719

style="text-align:center"|Cecil

| 31,251

| 64.30%

| 17,350

| 35.70%

| 13,901

| 28.60%

| 48,601

style="text-align:center"|Charles

| 69,395

| 77.91%

| 19,671

| 22.09%

| 49,724

| 55.83%

| 89,066

style="text-align:center"|Dorchester

| 10,718

| 67.59%

| 5,140

| 32.41%

| 5,578

| 35.17%

| 15,858

style="text-align:center"|Frederick

| 102,787

| 68.65%

| 46,937

| 31.35%

| 55,850

| 37.30%

| 149,724

style="text-align:center"|Garrett

| 6,773

| 44.81%

| 8,342

| 55.19%

| -1,569

| -10.38%

| 15,115

style="text-align:center"|Harford

| 97,082

| 66.70%

| 48,465

| 33.30%

| 48,617

| 33.40%

| 145,547

style="text-align:center"|Howard

| 139,939

| 79.37%

| 36,365

| 20.63%

| 103,574

| 58.75%

| 176,304

style="text-align:center"|Kent

| 7,773

| 72.58%

| 2,937

| 27.42%

| 4,836

| 45.15%

| 10,710

style="text-align:center"|Montgomery

| 404,351

| 82.35%

| 86,641

| 17.65%

| 317,710

| 64.71%

| 490,992

style="text-align:center"|Prince George's

| 335,057

| 87.83%

| 46,419

| 12.17%

| 288,638

| 75.66%

| 381,476

style="text-align:center"|Queen Anne's

| 19,647

| 63.44%

| 11,322

| 36.56%

| 8,325

| 26.88%

| 30,969

style="text-align:center"|St. Mary's

| 35,907

| 63.81%

| 20,362

| 36.19%

| 15,545

| 27.63%

| 56,269

style="text-align:center"|Somerset

| 5,463

| 57.57%

| 4,027

| 42.43%

| 1,436

| 15.13%

| 9,490

style="text-align:center"|Talbot

| 14,992

| 67.56%

| 7,199

| 32.44%

| 7,793

| 35.12%

| 22,191

style="text-align:center"|Washington

| 43,011

| 62.96%

| 25,305

| 37.04%

| 17,706

| 25.92%

| 68,316

style="text-align:center"|Wicomico

| 29,420

| 64.71%

| 16,042

| 35.29%

| 13,378

| 29.43%

| 45,462

style="text-align:center"|Worcester

| 20,192

| 64.30%

| 11,212

| 35.70%

| 8,980

| 28.60%

| 31,404

class="sortbottom"

| style="background-color:#E6E6E6;"| Total

| 2,199,319

| 76.06%

| 692,219

| 23.94%

| 1,507,100

| 52.12%

| 2,891,538

{{collapse bottom}}

=By congressional district=

"Yes" won all 8 congressional districts, including one that elected a Republican.{{cite report |title=Statewide Data Breakdown by State Congressional Districts|url=https://www.elections.maryland.gov/elections/2024/election_data/PG24_AllQuestionsCongressionalBreakDown.csv|website=elections.maryland.gov|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241209215804/https://www.elections.maryland.gov/elections/2024/election_data/PG24_AllQuestionsCongressionalBreakDown.csv|archive-date=2024-12-09}}

class="wikitable sortable"

! District

! Yes

! No

! Representative

align=center

! style="background: #B6C8D9;"|{{ushr|Maryland|1|1st}}

| 65%

| 35%

| {{party shading/Republican}}|Andy Harris

align=center

! rowspan=2 style="background: #B6C8D9;"|{{ushr|Maryland|2|2nd}}

| rowspan=2|74%

| rowspan=2|26%

| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Dutch Ruppersberger (118th Congress)

align=center

| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Johnny Olszewski (119th Congress)

align=center

! rowspan=2 style="background: #B6C8D9;"|{{ushr|Maryland|3|3rd}}

| rowspan=2|75%

| rowspan=2|25%

| {{party shading/Democratic}}|John Sarbanes (118th Congress)

align=center

| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Sarah Elfreth (119th Congress)

align=center

! style="background: #B6C8D9;"|{{ushr|Maryland|4|4th}}

| 87%

| 13%

| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Glenn Ivey

align=center

! style="background: #B6C8D9;"|{{ushr|Maryland|5|5th}}

| 77%

| 23%

| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Steny Hoyer

align=center

! rowspan=2 style="background: #B6C8D9;"|{{ushr|Maryland|6|6th}}

| rowspan=2|68%

| rowspan=2|32%

| {{party shading/Democratic}}|David Trone (118th Congress)

align=center

| {{party shading/Democratic}}|April McClain Delaney (119th Congress)

align=center

! style="background: #B6C8D9;"|{{ushr|Maryland|7|7th}}

| 84%

| 16%

| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Kweisi Mfume

align=center

! style="background: #B6C8D9;"|{{ushr|Maryland|8|8th}}

| 83%

| 17%

| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Jamie Raskin

See also

Notes

{{notelist}}

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • {{wikisource-inline|single=true}}
  • [https://legiscan.com/MD/bill/HB705/2023 Maryland House Bill 705] at Legiscan
  • [https://ballotpedia.org/Maryland_Right_to_Reproductive_Freedom_Amendment_(2024) Maryland Right to Reproductive Freedom Act (2024)] at Ballotpedia

{{2024 United States elections}}

Category:November 2024 in the United States

Category:2024 Maryland elections

Maryland

Category:U.S. state constitutional amendments

Category:Abortion in the United States

Category:Abortion referendums

2024

Category:United States state abortion legislation

Category:Women in Maryland