NEW REPORT: Ballot Measures Ushered in Massive Wins for Abortion Rights and Working Families, Even in Deep Red States

WASHINGTON, DC – Progressive issues won at the ballot box in the 2023/2024 election cycle, even as progressive candidates struggled,  thanks to a record number of successful statewide ballot measures supported by the Fairness Project. The group won an astounding 9 of 11 ballot measure campaigns on reproductive freedom and economic justice, changing lives for millions of Americans in red and purple states and offering hope and a strategic vision to working people facing extremism in Washington. 

Fairness Project now has an unmatched number of victories on progressive ballot measure campaigns across the country, having won a total of 39 campaigns across 20 states since 2016. The results from this election cycle are detailed in a new report, released today.

“We won in some of the deepest red, most conservative places in our country. We won against vehement opposition and politicians who tried to stack the odds in their favor. And we won on issues like abortion, paid leave, and raising the minimum wage—issues politicians have failed to advance for their constituents for decades,” said Kelly Hall, Executive Director of the Fairness Project.

When Roe fell, the Fairness Project got to work. The group rose to become the largest funder of abortion ballot measures this election cycle, contributing over $30 million through their Abortion Ballot Measure Fund. Following an early victory in Ohio in 2023, Fairness Project helped secure abortion rights wins in Missouri, Arizona, and Montana this year. As a result, 5.6 million women of reproductive age are no longer living under dangerous abortion bans. 

Of the Fairness Project’s work in Missouri to overturn a total abortion ban for the first time, Emily Wales, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains said that the group “listened to the reality on the ground, opened doors to opportunities, and helped build a path to making millions of Missourians healthier and more free.” 

1. Bennet Guess, Executive Director of the ACLU of Ohio, noted that the organization was an indispensable partner in their victory. “The Fairness Project was, in equal parts, both a major funder and trusted strategist, and in every way a full-on collaborator, in Ohio’s big win for abortion rights in 2023,” Guess stated.

This is just the beginning. The group noted that citizen-initiated constitutional amendments are possible in six states where abortion is currently banned or restricted.

Politicians consistently fail to raise wages or provide paid leave, but the Fairness Project succeeds. Issues of economic justice were overwhelmingly victorious at the ballot box with Fairness Project’s funding, strategy, and support for partners on the ground. The organization secured paid sick leave for more than 1 million people in Nebraska, Missouri, and Alaska, and raised minimum wages for nearly 600,000 workers and their families in Alaska and Missouri.

“[The Fairness Project’s] belief that ballot measures change lives is certainly true in Alaska. With [their] assistance, we are going to drastically change the quality of life of thousands of working Alaskans by raising their wages and giving them the ability to earn sick leave,” said Joelle Hall, President of the Alaska AFL-CIO.

The Fairness Project also fought back against attacks on the ballot measure process and won in North Dakota and Ohio this cycle, maintaining this vital tool for working people to make change for the long term. Since 2021, the Fairness Project has led and won five campaigns to defend ballot measure processes against changes that would undermine direct democracy.

“When extremist politicians know they can’t win, they try to change the rules. Not on our watch,” Hall stated.

Hall offered a hopeful message for progressives coming out of this election, as ballot measure wins showed that American people across political parties stand with reproductive freedom and economic justice. 

As Americans prepare for the conservative headwinds in Washington, ballot measures offer a way to circumvent regressive political agendas and partisan gridlock to make change for working families. Hall noted that the Fairness Project aims to advance ballot measures on abortion access, child care, housing, paid leave, minimum wage, tax credits, and more in the next election cycle.

“We’re not stopping. In fact, we’re going on offense,” Hall concluded. “The power of ballot measures is that the American people don’t have to wait – they can make change themselves. And we intend to support them with everything we have.”