Kamala Harris could strengthen Florida abortion rights measure

As Vice President Kamala Harris becomes increasingly likely to win the Democratic presidential nomination, the campaign for Florida’s abortion rights initiative has come under increasing scrutiny.

Harris has been the White House’s leading voice on abortion coverage, often blaming former President Donald Trump for overturning Roe v. Wade at the U.S. Supreme Court. And while Florida Democrats have tried to make the issue nonpartisan, they still want Harris to focus on that message.

“She’s very clear about which party is going to protect this freedom,” Florida House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell, of Tampa, told the Times/Herald, adding that the language of Florida Democrats is “in step.”

Driskell continued: “The way to talk about this issue is to talk about protecting the freedom of Floridians to make their own personal medical decisions without government interference, and that’s how Vice President Harris talks about abortion access.”

Driskell, a leading voice on abortion rights in Florida for the White House, moderated a roundtable Harris held in Orlando in 2022 after the overturning of Roe v. Wade. She has since participated in other abortion rights events with Harris, including on the campaign trail.

Driskell endorsed Harris for president on Sunday, as did two other top Democratic leaders in the Florida Legislature: Rep. Anna Eskamani of Orlando and retiring Senate Minority Leader Lauren Book of Davie.

However, supporters of the proposed Florida constitutional amendment were not always enthusiastic about the message from the Democratic Party leadership on the ballot, which is trying to convince voters of all persuasions to support a ballot question that would require 60 percent of the vote to pass.

Lauren Brenzel, campaign manager for Floridians Protecting Freedom, the sponsor of the abortion rights amendment, said her group had “no position” on Harris’ message on the issue if she were to become the Democratic nominee.

Eskamani criticized President Joe Biden’s campaign in April for politicizing the abortion issue by calling Florida “winnable” after the state Supreme Court approved the amendment for the November ballot.

But Eskamani said Biden’s team has since changed its tune, acknowledging that the Florida initiative is “nonpartisan.”

“They absolutely need to talk about how former President Trump and Republicans are responsible for Florida’s near-total abortion ban,” Eskamani said. “That accountability is essential, and as a woman, (Harris) is well-positioned to share the stories of so many women across the country.”

Book, the highest-ranking Democrat in Florida, said in a statement that Harris “understands better than anyone what is at stake” in Florida’s abortion initiative.

“As a prosecutor, she spoke to me about bringing justice to victims and the critical importance of ensuring survivors of rape and incest have autonomy over their own bodies,” Book said, referring to a new Biden-Harris campaign ad featuring a young woman talking about becoming pregnant by her stepfather at age 12.

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The book states: “This fight is about ensuring access to health care for women, girls, and survivors of sexual assault, because — as Kamala Harris knows — government has no place in our consultation rooms.”

At a press conference on Thursday, Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried said the abortion rights initiative is supported by a “broad coalition” of Democrats, independents and Republicans.

“We’re talking about health care,” Fried said. “We’re talking about freedom, the freedom to choose what’s best for you and your family.”

Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith, a Democrat from Orlando, said it “doesn’t matter who the messenger is” on abortion rights.

“The issue is on everyone’s minds,” Smith said during the call.

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Tampa Bay Times Election Coverage

Voter’s Guide to the 2024 Primary Elections: 100+ local candidates on the following issues: Below you can read who is running for office and what their positions are on abortion, immigration, local schools and more.