As a mother of a 30-year-old daughter, Beth Kravec of Broward County wants to see abortion rights guaranteed in Florida. Having Kamala Harris, a vocal advocate for women’s reproductive rights, as a presidential nominee excites her.
“It gives me some hope for Florida,” Kravec said.
Emily Danzinger’s TikTok “For You” page is flooded with Kamala Harris “Brat” memes. A student at the University of Miami who is currently interning for Debbie Mucarsel-Powell’s campaign, she’s more politically engaged than the average college student. But ever since President Joe Biden dropped out, she says her peers seem more inclined to head to the polls, an uptick in youth voter turnout that could impact not only the outcome of the abortion amendment but the marijuana legalization amendment as well.
“A lot of college-aged individuals, male or female, I think everyone likes the idea of not getting arrested for weed,” she said.
Florida politicians say the state’s Black, young, and undecided voters are more energized with Harris atop the Democratic presidential ticket, and their presence at the polls could be just what is needed to get approval for two significant amendments to the Florida Constitution.
In November, along with choosing the next president, Florida voters will decide whether they want abortion access and the legalization of recreational marijuana to be enshrined in the state constitution. Currently, Florida bans abortion after six weeks of gestation and allows marijuana legally only for medical use.
“Voters were not excited about coming out for another Joe versus Trump race, but they are reinvigorated and excited about what Kamala stands for,” said Lauren Book, a Democrat and state senator from Broward County.
Speaking for college students, Danzinger echoed those feelings.
“I see a renewed interest in a lot of people who were probably not going to vote because they didn’t like either candidate,” she said.
Amendment 4 — abortion access
Harris is an outspoken supporter of women’s reproductive rights. In visits to the Sunshine State, she has slammed Florida’s abortion restriction and emphasized a need to protect Floridians’ freedom to make their own personal medical decisions — without governmental interference. With even more attention now on Harris, her abortion rights agenda could bring awareness to Florida voters who may have been unaware of what’s at stake.
“She is very clear that she is going to protect a woman’s right to choice,” Book said.
In a news briefing Thursday, Florida Democratic Leaders said that donations, volunteers and overall support have increased after Joe Biden stepped out of the race and Harris became poised to be the Democratic presidential nominee. “There was a call on Monday in Florida with over 2,000 Black women excited and ready to support the vice president. There is something special happening here on the center-left where people are ready to get informed and engaged and mobilize their communities to vote,” said Florida House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell. “I think that’s going to be essential this election cycle.”
Harris’ voice has been loud in objecting to abortion bans, and if the vice president becomes the presidential nominee, reproductive rights will likely be a key focus of her campaign,
However, leaders behind the campaign for Yes on Amendment 4 want to avoid aligning with either party, according to Lauren Brenzel, the campaign director for Floridians Protecting Freedom, the sponsor of the abortion rights ballot amendment. “We are non-partisan,” she said.
Still, partisan politics are evident. Aaron Bos-Lun spends his days mobilizing young men in South Florida to support women’s choice to have an abortion. His goal is to get young men to show up at the polls in November, cement abortion rights in the Florida Constitution, and invalidate the current six-week abortion ban. Putting Harris atop the Democratic ticket excited him, he said.
“It’s hard to imagine the level of energy she brings is not going to provide energy to the pro-choice activity,” said Bos-Lun of Men4Choice Miami.
To pass, both the abortion access amendment (Amendment 4) and the recreational marijuana amendment (Amendment 3) need 60% of the voters on election day to give their approval rather than a simple majority. Advocates say that will require reaching out to as many varied groups as possible and winning over many conservatives. Some lifelong Republicans in Florida are hosting dinners and events to convince friends and acquaintances to vote yes on Amendment 4.
“To be successful, I think it is important,” Book said regarding Brenzel’s stance. “We have Trump voters, independent voters and Democrat voters coming out in support for Amendment 4.”
Emma Cullom of the Reproductive Freedom Collective of Broward County said Harris’ run for President will get voters to the polls who might have stayed home.
“It promotes new voters who are excited about her and those who were exhausted by another Biden-Trump rematch to come out to vote, and that will be good for our abortion rights fight,” she said.
University of Miami Constitutional Law Professor Caroline Corbin said Harris could be the motivator that helps get Amendment 4 approved.
“It’s entirely possible with her at the top, abortion will be even more salient than before because she will make it salient, and that might turn out more people to vote in favor it,” Corbin said. “It was already an incredibly important issue, and many Floridians already are keen to get to the polls and express support for it, but having a fervent pro-choice woman candidate who is going to highlight the issue should have an effect.”
Natasha Sutherland, communications director for Yes on 4, said young people are essential for success on the abortion access amendment, and so far, there is enthusiasm among the next generation. “Young people are connecting to her, however, we don’t know yet whether that buzz will translate into material votes for the amendment in November. We are working to make that happen.”
Amendment 3 — Recreational marijuana
The connection between Harris and marijuana legalization is not quite as pronounced as it is with abortion. She has come under fire from the left over her time as district attorney and attorney general in California, where she prosecuted marijuana crimes, though she has since become an advocate for legalization.
Still, advocates say Harris’ presence could increase turnout, particularly among demographics that are more likely to vote yes, including younger voters and Black voters.
“Harris’ nomination could energize the Democratic base and potentially increase voter turnout, which generally benefits progressive measures like Amendment 3,” Emily Fisher, the CEO of Leafwell, a medical marijuana company based in Orlando, said in an email. “Younger and more diverse voters, who tend to support cannabis legalization, might be more likely to vote.”
As with abortion, advocates for marijuana legalization do not view the issue as partisan. Smart and Safe Florida, the group sponsoring the amendment, believes that increased turnout among Republican voters and Democrats will improve the chances of it passing.
“We have broad bipartisan support for Amendment 3,” Morgan Hill, a spokesperson for Smart and Safe Florida, said in an email. “Public polling shows well over a majority of Republicans, Democrats, and Independents are supportive of legalizing recreational adult use marijuana in Florida. Turnout is important in any election, and energy on both sides of the aisle will help us to win in November.”
Still, the effect of Harris as the nominee on voter turnout remains to be seen. Dustin Robinson, the founder of the cannabis law and consulting firm Mr. Cannabis Law, now LumaLex Law, agrees that increased turnout could result in more support for the amendment but isn’t convinced that the energy around Harris will last into November.
“I think right now people are excited because it’s not Biden, so it feels like there’s going to be bigger voter turnout, but I think there’s also a possibility people start to turn on Kamala,” he said.
Some young people also see Harris as too similar to Biden — particularly over the war in Gaza — and her nomination is not enough to capture their support.
“I think a lot of folks are falling into a sort of optimism that I believe is kind of unfounded,” said Oscar Alvarez, a senior at Florida International University and member of the Young Democratic Socialists of America who has led on-campus protests over the war. “Having been by Biden’s side and not doing much critiquing whatsoever, honestly supporting a lot of same policies we criticized Biden for, shows she’s only a new face.”
Still, he agrees that Harris’ Gen Z appeal surpasses Biden’s.
“She’s doing everything she can to get the kids out,” Alvarez said, “and I think it will be good for her.”
Nothing is guaranteed
Both amendments still will face a concerted opposition effort from the Republican Party. Whatever effect Harris may have on their passage, her presence on the ticket does not make either amendment a shoo-in.
Gov. Ron DeSantis, at last week’s Republican National Convention, urged Florida Republicans to get engaged in fighting both amendments. He called the abortion amendment “wrong” and said about the recreational marijuana amendment: “We’ve seen it in practice in a lot of these places. It hasn’t delivered what they said it was going to deliver. It’s not good for quality of life.”
DeSantis added, “I think if Republicans are united on these, I don’t think there’s any way they could get to 60%.”
Florida Congresswoman Frederica Wilson believes both amendments will pass and that Harris will draw voters in favor of them to the polls, particularly if she holds rallies in Florida leading up to the election.
“Every time she comes it impacts a whole new listening audience,” Wilson said. “People are following her and listening to every word she says.”
“When people show up, they will vote for these amendments,” she added. “The polls show people in Florida want freedoms.”
