JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — A campaign aimed at reinstating abortion access in Missouri has successfully gathered nearly $22 million, according to financial disclosures released on Tuesday.
The initiative, known as Missourians for Constitutional Freedom, managed to secure over $14 million from July through the end of September.
This group is working to reverse the state’s almost complete ban on abortion and is part of a broader effort involving nine statewide campaigns focused on establishing abortion rights within state constitutions.
As of the start of October, the campaign had close to $11 million available for advertising as the election on November 5 approaches.
Noteworthy contributors to the Missouri campaign include model Karlie Kloss, who donated $50,000, and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who added $1 million last month.
Other significant financial supporters comprise Planned Parenthood, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Sixteen Thirty Fund, and The Fairness Project, among various others.
In contrast, the political action committee opposing the abortion-rights amendment in Missouri has managed to raise around $212,000, but had less than $5,000 remaining at the beginning of October.
Meanwhile, Missouri Right to Life, a prominent anti-abortion organization, has reportedly expended at least $637,000 in efforts to combat the amendment.
Running initiative petition campaigns in Missouri often demands substantial financial resources, with similar ballot measures in other states proving to be financially burdensome as well.
For instance, a contentious battle over abortion rights in Ohio in 2022 saw total expenditures soar to $70 million, where supporters contributed nearly $40 million and opponents spent over $30 million. Ultimately, the reproductive rights amendment was approved by almost 57% of voters in Ohio.
Throughout this year, groups advocating for abortion rights have outperformed their opponents financially in ballot measure campaigns nationwide by a striking margin of nearly 8-to-1.