Missouri groups make final push to sway voters on Amendment 3
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
Millions of dollars are pouring into the fight over abortion rights as Missouri voters prepare to decide the fate of Amendment 3 for a second time in two years.
Her Health, Her Future hosted its “Say Yes on 3” rally at Concord Baptist Church in Jefferson City, where speakers shared why they believe voters should repeal the reproductive rights protections approved by voters in 2024.
Five speakers addressed about 50 attendees: Dr. Robert J. Matz, Dr. Wes Fowler, Dr. Doug Richey, Stephanie Jacobson and Tom Estes. State Sen. Rick Brattin was listed as a speaker but did not attend.
Tom Estes, Political Director of Her Health, Her Future, said he believes voters who approved the original amendment were focused on exceptions for difficult situations.
“They were voting for those difficult cases that women were in,” Estes said. “I don’t think they realize that they were actually creating an abortion on demand situation in Missouri,”
A “yes” vote would support changing the Missouri Constitution to repeal the existing protections and establish new restrictions.
A “no” vote would oppose the proposed changes, keeping the current constitutional protections for reproductive freedom in place, like access to abortion up to a certain amount of weeks.
“I’m voting yes for Amendment 3 because I believe it will literally save thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of lives,” said Dr. Wes Fowler, Executive director and Treasurer of the Missouri Baptist Convention.
Stephanie Jacobson, Founder and Director of Bulletproof Alliance, also shared her personal experience. Jacobson said she grew up in the church and had two abortions by the time she was 19.
The rally comes as campaign committees report millions of dollars raised and spent in the fight over Amendment 3.
Thursday was the quarterly filing deadline for political committees to report their fundraising and spending to the Missouri Ethics Commission. The latest reporting period covered July 7 through Sept. 30.
Her Health, Her Future PAC, which is led by Missouri first lady Claudia Kehoe, supports the passage of Amendment 3.
According to campaign finance filings, the PAC raised about $1.7 million during the reporting period and spent about $2.2 million. The organization also reported approximately $797,000 in cash on hand.
“Our opponents raised about 4 or 5 times that amount during their time.” Estes said. “But we’re happy with what we have. I mean, I think that we have more than enough to run a great campaign and there’s still time,”
Meanwhile, the pro-choice group Stop the Ban reported raising about $14.8 million and spending about $8.7 million during the same period, with approximately $9.7 million in cash on hand, according to financial documents.
Tom Bastian, a spokesperson for Stop the Ban, said in an email that the proposed amendment would repeal reproductive freedom protections Missouri voters approved in 2024.
“Anti-abortion politicians continue to try to overturn the will of voters and ban abortion,” Bastin said.
Bastian urged voters to reject the proposal and preserve the reproductive freedom protections approved in 2024.
“Missourians must vote no on Amendment 3 to keep medical decisions with women and their doctors, not politicians,” Bastin said.
Missouri voters will decide Nov. 3 whether to repeal the reproductive freedom protections previously approved or replace them with new abortion restrictions.
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