The organization that is spearheading the effort to include abortion rights in the state Constitution, Floridians Protecting Freedom, has raised $20 million since the amendment was approved to be included on the ballot this November. In the first half of June, the group raised over $8 million.
Financial disclosures from the Florida Division of Elections show that this $20 million represents about half of the total the group has raised since beginning the campaign to defend abortion access in Florida early last year.
These numbers demonstrate the groundswell of support that has occurred since the Florida Supreme Court decided to allow Amendment 4 to be included on the ballot and denied a challenge to the state’s 15-week abortion ban, which paved the way for the six-week ban to go into effect on May 1.
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Prior to the start of the group’s scheduled Saturday canvassing operations, those monetary and in-kind donations are bolstering their confidence.
Campaign director Lauren Brenzel stated in a press statement on Friday that “the Yes On 4 Campaign is fueled by this significant donor enthusiasm to boost our efforts as we launch our volunteer canvassing program this weekend.” “Rising $20 million in just 11 weeks is no small accomplishment, and it’s all because of the tremendous support we have at home.”
Across the state, including in St. Petersburg, Tallahassee, Miami Beach, Orlando, and Jacksonville, there will be canvassing activities.
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The majority of the donations listed in the most recent financial report, which details contributions totaling $8.2 million made between June 1 and June 14, came from individuals and other organizations in Florida, but Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies, an Oklahoma-based organization whose stated mission is to advance racial, gender, and economic equity in the United States and Israel, made the largest contribution of $5 million.
The campaign staff of Floridians Protecting Freedom wants voters to consider Amendment 4 objectively, despite recent polls showing that it has more than 60% of the vote needed to pass.
At a news conference on Thursday, the campaign’s communications director, Natasha Sutherland, stated, “We know that Floridians do not like to be told what to do, and so that resonates, I think, across party lines.”
Hence, we merely stick to the issues and the principles, and we want people to join us in our effort to pass Yes on 4 regardless of their political membership.
At a news conference on June 10, executive director Stephanie Loraine Piñeiro stated that the Florida Access Network, a nonprofit organization that assists people in getting abortions, has observed a decline in the number of contributors as a result of people needing to travel further for these procedures.