Floridians defeated a pro-abortion constitutional amendment that would have opened the door for killing preborn babies through all nine months of pregnancy.

Tuesday’s vote also stood out as a positive sign of hope for the pro-life movement, which had suffered a handful of losses at the state level.

“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,” Amendment 4’s ballot summary stated. “This amendment does not change the Legislature’s constitutional authority to require notification to a parent or guardian before a minor has an abortion.”

The term “health” does not mean imminent medical emergency. Rather, abortionists have used the term loosely, including for a possibility of adverse mental health outcomes from a pregnancy.

While 57% voted in favor, the amendment needed 60% to pass.

Some states, even Republican-led ones, have suffered pro-life losses. In Missouri, for example, voters approved a pro-abortion constitutional amendment. Voters in deep-red Ohio passed a similar radical amendment in 2023.

However, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis vocally opposed this amendment and used legal means to ensure its defeat. For example, the state added a financial harm statement to the amendment, which warned voters about potential costs.

“In September, the state agency in charge of running Florida’s Medicaid program launched a website attacking the amendment,” the Hill reported. “At least three public agencies have aired television and radio ads against the measure.”

Florida has not only a right, but a duty, to stand up for every one of its citizens. DeSantis used the bully pulpit to speak out against a radical proposal that would have greatly expanded abortion in the state.

“Amendment 4 is a Trojan horse that mandates abortion until birth for virtually any reason—if it passes, taxpayers may be forced to fund it,” he wrote on X in early October.

Currently, Florida prohibits abortions at around six weeks, with some exceptions, but more work can be done.

Legislators and DeSantis should continue to work to make abortions hard to obtain in the state. Pro-abortion activists have already pledged to continue to fight to expand the killing of preborn children. Republican leaders in Florida should consider amending the state constitution to protect all human life from the moment of conception, as well as any other steps they can take to stop the pro-abortion agenda.