The Abortion Paradox of the 2024 Election

By: Estefani Cruz

February 6, 2026

Former President Donald Trump prevailed in his third bid for election, seeing victory in three of ten states that simultaneously passed ballot measures to protect abortion access. Arizona, Missouri, and Montana are among the few states set to amend their state constitutions to enshrine the right to abortion until around 24 weeks of pregnancy. This decision highlights a significant shift in public sentiment towards safeguarding reproductive rights, even in states that may have otherwise conservative leanings. Deirdre Schifeling, chief political and advocacy officer for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), describe this phenomenon as a “cognitive dissonance,” suggesting that voters might prioritize other issues, such as the economy or immigration, over their views on abortion, leading to seemingly contradictory voting behaviors (Lee). In Montana, the newly passed measure will prevent state lawmakers from imposing future restrictions on abortion, securing long-term access to reproductive health services regardless of future political shifts. One possible reason for this trend is due to the influx of people from California and Washington moving to Montana, including individuals who may lean conservative but still support maintaining access to abortion, a right safeguarded in their home states.

According to 2024 data from the Pew Research Center, nearly two-thirds of Americans agree that abortions should be legal in all or most scenarios (Lee). Thus, Trump’s choice to soften his stance on national restrictions this past election cycle serves as a reflection of contemporary beliefs by declaring that the decision should be left up to the state. As someone who pridefully assumed responsibility for overturning Roe v. Wade in 2022 and expressed support for large-scale restrictions, his recent change in attitude diverges from his undeniable role in selecting Supreme Court justices who eliminated the constitutional right to abortion. Nonetheless, the results of the 2024 presidential election suggest that most voters did not perceive him as firmly opposed to abortion and were instead influenced by the impression he projected.

Works Cited

Lee, Chantelle. “Why Abortion Rights Won in Three States That Voted for Trump.” TIME, Time, 11 Nov. 2024, time.com/7174962/abortion-rights-won-states-voted-trump/.